Air pollution is the leading environmental health risk for children in Europe and Central Asia. Young children, in particular, are at the greatest risk of air pollution-related death and disease.Across 23 countries and territories in Europe and Central Asia, an estimated 6,441 children and teenagers died from causes attributable to air pollution in 2021. The vast majority – 85 per cent – died in their first year of life. In fact, one in five of all infant deaths in the region were linked to air pollution. Most of these deaths were attributable to ambient and household fine particulate matter air pollution (PM2.5). And all of these deaths were preventable.
This policy brief provides an overview of the health impacts of air pollution on children in Europe and Central Asia, and makes policy recommendations to national governments to strengthen their health systems.