Over 1 lakh kids died due to air pollution in India: WHO report

New Delhi: In a startling revelation, it has come to notice that 6 lakh children died from acute lower respiratory infections caused by polluted air across the globe in 2016.

According to the latest report of World Health Organisation (WHO) on 'Air Pollution and Child Health: Prescribing Clean Air', India reported the death of over 1 lakh children due to both ambient and household pollution of PM2.5 in 2016.

While in the category of deaths due to ambient PM2.5, India has topped the list with 60,987 children under five years of age died in 2016 due to air pollution followed by Nigeria with 47,674 death and Pakistan with 21,136 deaths.

As per the findings, the scenario is more alarming in girls as about 32,889 girls died in comparison to 28,097 boys under the age of five years. In the age bracket of five to 14 years, India also saw the deaths of 4,360 children in 2016.

According to the findings of the WHO study, in rural India, the risk of infant mortality was 21 per cent higher in households with the indoor burning of biomass fuels (wood or dung) than in those in which kerosene or biogas was used.

In another study, infants born to women exposed to polluting cooking fuels such as kerosene, charcoal, coal, wood, straw, crop waste and dung during pregnancy were found to be at increased risk of neonatal mortality within 0–2 days of birth, indicating the danger of exposure to household air pollution (HAP) both in utero and in the domestic environment.

"The pollution crisis in India has been urgent for years as 14 of the 20 most polluted cities of the world are in India. The country faces the highest air pollution-related mortality and disease burden in the world," the WHO report said, adding that more than 20 lakh deaths are said to occur prematurely in India due to pollution and this accounts for 25 per cent of the global deaths due to air pollution.

At a global level and specific to the impact of pollution on children, the WHO report stated that more than 90 per cent of the world's children (1.8 billion) breathe toxic air every day.

Out of this, in 2016, 6 lakh children are estimated to have died from acute lower respiratory infections caused by dirty air, the report said, adding that in low and middle-income countries, 98 per cent of children under five are said to be exposed to PM2.5 of pollution, while in high-income countries, this number nearly halves to 52 per cent.

The WHO report further highlighted that pregnant women living in highly polluted areas often have babies who suffer from a range of issues, including low birth weight. In the long run, air pollution impacts the neurodevelopment of the child, their cognitive abilities and motor development, the report added.

Commenting on the report, WHO Director-General said, "Polluted air is poisoning millions of children and ruining their lives. This is inexcusable. Every child should be able to breathe clean air so they can grow and fulfil their full potential."