Nearly one in seven children worldwide, most of whom are in South Asia, live in places where they are exposed to high levels of outdoor air pollution, the United Nation's children's agency UNICEF revealed on Monday.
The agency's new research revealed that 300 million children worldwide are exposed to toxic fumes that are more than six times the recommended international guidelines, placing their young bodies vulnerable to the unwanted effects of air pollution.
The agency warned that the levels of global air pollution are a factor that contributed to 600,000 child deaths a year, which is more than the number caused by malaria and HIV combined.
Of the total number of children exposed to high levels of air pollution, 220 million live in South Asia as identified by satellite imagery developed by NASA.
"Air pollution affects poor children the most," said UNICEF specialist on climate and economic analysis Nicholas Rees.
Jos Lelieveld, from the Max Planck Institute in Germany, said that air pollution tends to be a problem in developing countries where poor nutrition and insufficient health care give infants little resistance.
UNICEF has called on nations to cut the burning of fossil fuels as it pointed out the enduring damages of toxic air to children's health and the developing brain. Among the sources of air pollution include power plants, factories and cars that use fossil fuels.
Almost 200 governments are set to meet in Morocco from Nov. 7 to 19 to talk about global warming, particularly to restrict use of fossil fuels, a move that can help slow down climate change and improve health.
UNICEF has called on nations participating in the meeting to accelerate the shift to cleaner energies such as wind and solar power to limit children's exposure to air pollution and improve their access to health care.
"The magnitude of the danger air pollution poses is enormous," said UNICEF executive director Anthony Lake. "No society can afford to ignore air pollution. We protect our children when we protect the quality of our air. Both are central to our future."
Lake explained that pollutants do not just harm the developing lungs of the children. They can also cross the blood-brain barrier and cause permanent damage to the developing brain and the future of affected children.
A study released in June revealed that air pollution increases children's mental illness risk. In adults, exposure to air pollutants has been linked to high blood pressure levels.
