1.7m children die each year from polluted environment –WHO

Every year, environmental risks – such as indoor and outdoor air pollution, second-hand smoke, unsafe water, lack of sanitation, and inadequate hygiene results in deaths of about 1.7 million children under 5 years, says the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Two reports released by WHO – Inheriting a Sustainable World: Atlas on Children’s Health and the Environment and ‘Don’t pollute my future! The impact of the environment on children’s health’, connects environmental pollution with thousands of death in children.

The first report reveals that a large portion of the most common causes of death among children aged 1 month to 5 years – diarrhoea, malaria and pneumonia – are preventable by interventions known to reduce environmental risks, such as access to safe water and clean cooking fuels.

The companion report provides a comprehensive overview of the environment’s impact on children’s health, illustrating the scale of the challenge.

“A polluted environment is a deadly one – particularly for young children,” says Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General. “Their developing organs and immune systems, and smaller bodies and airways, make them especially vulnerable to dirty air and water.”

WHO says harmful exposures can start in the mother’s womb and increases the risk of premature births.

Also exposing infants and pre-schoolers to second-hand smoke they have an increased risk of pneumonia in childhood, and a lifelong increased risk of chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma. Exposure to air pollution may also increase their lifelong risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer.

“For example, emerging environmental hazards, such as electronic and electrical waste (such as old mobile phones) that is improperly recycled, expose children to toxins which can lead to reduced intelligence, attention deficits, lung damage, and cancer. The generation of electronic and electrical waste is forecasted to increase by 19% between 2014 and 2018, to 50 million metric tonnes by 2018,” says the WHO statement.

In households without access to basic services, such as safe water and sanitation, or that are smoky due to the use of unclean fuels, such as coal or dung for cooking and heating, children are at an increased risk of diarrhoea and pneumonia.

Children also exposed to harmful chemicals like fluoride, lead and mercury pesticides through food, water, air and products around them may affect brain development.

WHO recommends government sectors to work together to improve domestic energy polices by ensuring clean fuel for heating and cooking. Reduce emissions and increase public transport.

Pests, unsafe building materials and lead paint ought to be removed where there are young children.

Other factors that can promote good health for young children according to WHO is for schools to provide safe sanitation and hygiene free of noise, pollution, and promote good nutrition.

Ensure safe water, sanitation and hygiene, and reliable electricity in health facilities, create more green spaces, safe walking and cycling paths in urban areas.

Also reducing the use of hazardous pesticides and no child labour in agriculture, managing hazardous waste and reduce the use of harmful chemicals in industries are other recommended strategies.