World Health Organization: 600,000 Children Die Annually Due to Air Pollution

On Tuesday, November 7, the World Health Organization warned that approximately 600,000 children under the age of 15 lose their lives each year due to toxic and polluted air in both indoor and outdoor environments. Evidence released by this organization indicates that every day, 93% of children under 15 years old, around 1.8 billion, including 630 million children under five, breathe polluted and dangerous air. The UN health agency states in its report that this situation has catastrophic consequences. In 2016, about 600,000 children died from respiratory infections resulting from air pollution. Tedros Adhanom, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, stated, "Air pollution poisons millions of children and destroys their lives. This situation is unforgivable. Every child should be able to breathe clean air and have healthy growth." According to WHO statistics, more than 9 out of 10 people worldwide breathe polluted and dangerous air, leading to the premature deaths of seven million people each year. The report emphasizes that air pollution is particularly dangerous for children and is responsible for 10% of deaths among children under five globally. This WHO research focuses on the dangers of breathing polluted air for children in both indoor and outdoor environments, particularly on hazardous particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers. Iran is identified as the "third most polluted country in the world." Toxic substances such as sulfate and black carbon are among these hazardous particles and are considered the most severe health threats due to their deep penetration into the lungs and cardiovascular system. The report indicates that children in poorer countries are at greater risk, with 98% of children living in low- and middle-income countries breathing air that exceeds the WHO's established limits for hazardous particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers, compared to about 52% in wealthy countries. According to AFP, the WHO report states that breathing polluted air in homes or outdoor spaces is the main cause of over half of respiratory infections among children in poorer countries. This report, released ahead of the first global conference on air pollution and health, notes that among pregnant women who breathe polluted air, the likelihood of premature birth and abnormal newborn weight increases. The report states that because children breathe faster than adults, they are more vulnerable to air pollution and absorb more pollutants during critical growth periods for their brains and bodies. Additionally, infants and young children in homes that use polluted fuels for cooking and heating are at greater risk. According to the WHO, air pollution can severely negatively impact children's physical and mental development and lead to asthma or cancer. Furthermore, these children may develop chronic diseases such as heart failure later in life.