09/09/2026
According to UNICEF, 93% of those under 15 breathe in enough air pollution to impact their health and development. That’s 1.8 billion children.
At such a young age, pollutants:
- Alter physical and cognitive development of newborns and young babies
- Increase risk of acute respiratory infections
- Reduce lung capacity by 20% in highly polluted areas
- Account for 26% of newborn deaths worldwide due to preterm birth and low birth weight (LBW)
- Are linked with respiratory infections that account for 15% of all under-5 deaths
So, what can we actually do?
Short term, we can protect children directly by:
- Recommending window and air filters
- Using cleaner fuels to cook and heat homes
- Checking air quality before outings
However, longer term, air pollution is a global emergency requiring active changes in policy at local and national levels.
What can we do as healthcare professionals (HCPs)?
- Talk to pregnant patients about air pollution and its risks of preterm birth and LBW
- Speak to parents of children with asthma about the impacts of air pollution on their condition
- Use our power as HCPs to speak to patients about better travel choices and cleaner air decisions in the home
To learn more, see Global Action Plan’s videos on how to speak to patients about air pollution: https://www.actionforcleanair.org.uk/health/knowledge-hub-health
More generally, see the UN Environment Programme’s guides to individuals, universities, and private sector groups on what we can do day to day and who to lobby for change - https://www.unep.org/interactives/clean-air-day-guide/
- Sources:
https://www.unicef.org/parenting/emergencies/air-pollution
https://www.actionforcleanair.org.uk/health/knowledge-hub-health
UNICEF UN Environment Programme
