Every year, air pollution is responsible for the deaths of over 600,000 children under 5 years of age (UNICEF, 2016). Air pollution is especially harmful to young children as their bodies and brains are still developing, and they lack the natural defence mechanisms to fend off harmful pollutants. They also breath up to five times faster than adults, and with every breath, take in more air per unit of body weight than adults. Exposure to air pollution in early childhood can lead to lifelong health and developmental impacts, including reduced lung capacity, stunting, lower IQ and depression.
Vital Strategies has partnered with the Asia-Pacific Regional Network for Early Childhood Development (ARNEC) to publish this advocacy brief to highlight the specific risk that air pollution poses to young children, and a list of actions that we can all take to reduce this risk.