Protecting children from air POLLUTION

Come winter, pollution levels in India's major cities break the nephelometers. On November 8, Delhi Air Quality Index (AQI) touching 999 against the ideal of 50. Mumbai also recorded high air pollution last month with the commercial capital classified in the 'poor' category.

- Kiran Balimane

Though all citizens suffer because of high air pollution, children are especially vulnerable. According to Unicef's State of Global Air 2020 report, more than 116,000 infants in India died within a month of birth in 2019 due to air pollution outdoor and indoor. Those who survive have to struggle with a range of health problems including periodic respiratory infections, allergic rhinitis, acute bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, wheezing and breathing difficulties. Moreover constant inhalation of toxic air severely damages young children's lungs, and lower oxygen intake because of breathing difficulties can lead to long-term problems with vision, growth and brain development.