More than 1,200 children die every year due to air pollution in Europe, says report

The EU Environmental Agency (EEA) on Monday said that more than 1,200 premature deaths are recorded every year of those aged under 18 across Europe due to air pollution. It added that pollution is also increasing the risk of these youngsters contracting chronic diseases in later stages of their lives.

Even after improvements made recently, the level of key air pollutants in many European countries "remain stubbornly above" World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, especially in central-eastern Europe and Italy, stated the EEA after carrying out a study in almost 30 countries, which includes 27 members of the European Union.

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The report did not include the major industrial nations like the United Kingdom, Ukraine and Russia, suggesting that the continent's overall death tolls could be higher.

Last November, the EEA said that 238,000 people died prematurely due to air pollution in 2020. The death toll includes those in the EU as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey.

"Air pollution causes over 1,200 premature deaths per year in people under the age of 18 in Europe and significantly increases the risk of disease later in life," the agency stated.

This was the first study conducted by the agency which focused specifically on children.

"Although the number of premature deaths in this age group is low relative to the total for the European population estimated by EEA each year, deaths early in life represent a loss of future potential and come with a significant burden of chronic illness, both in childhood and later in life," said the agency.

The agency appealed to the authorities to focus on the improvisation of air quality around nurseries, sports facilities, schools and mass transport hubs.

"After birth, ambient air pollution increases the risk of several health problems, including asthma, reduced lung function, respiratory infections and allergies," noted the report.

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Poor quality of air can also "aggravate chronic conditions like asthma, which afflicts nine per cent of children and adolescents in Europe, as well as increasing the risk of some chronic diseases later in adulthood", stated the report.

As per the figures released on Monday, 97 per cent of the urban population was inhaling air that did not meet the standards mentioned in the WHO recommendations in 2021.

Last year, the EEA said that the EU was heading toward its target of reducing the number of premature deaths by 50 per cent by 2030.

(With inputs from agencies)

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