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.
This publication is the first in a series and part of a resource kit on Climate and Environmental threats on early childhood development. To learn more, please email ecdclimate@gmail.com
Download the full advocacy brief (10 pages)
Download the call-to-action only (2-pager)
Recent Abstracts
The Perception of Air Quality and Community Resilience Towards Air Pollution Issues in…
Effect of women empowerment on treatment-seeking practice for sexually transmitted infections among women…
Stage at diagnosis and survival among adult patients with cancer in Rwanda: A…
Impact of nutrient warning labels on Colombian consumers’ selection and identification of food…
A Systems Map of the Challenges of Climate Communication
Increased Taxes and Regulation of Indian Cigarillos (Bidi) Industry: Effects on Revenue and…
ICC’s Cricket World Cup 2023 and the dirty game of surrogate advertisements of…
Reframing the One Health Approach: Observations from One Health Programs in Southeast Asia
Childhood Lead Exposure Prevention: Assessment Of Blood Lead Surveillance Capacity Maharashtra, India
UK PACT : Enhancing Sustainable Urban Mobility in Surabaya and Makassar