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Every year, 1.7 million children die from dirt and a lack of hygiene
The World Health Organization (WHO) has produced a report stating that around 1.7 million children die each year from environmental degradation and poor hygiene. Much of the deaths could be prevented.
Environmental degradation and unsanitary conditions, especially in developing countries
Outdoor and indoor air pollution, exposure to secondhand smoke, contaminated water, lack of sanitation: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 1.7 million children under the age of five worldwide die every year from environmental degradation and unhygienic conditions. As the WHO writes in a communication, this is about every fourth death at this age. Most children die in developing countries.
Every year millions of children worldwide die due to environmental degradation and unhygienic conditions. People need clean drinking water, better sanitation and improved air quality. (Image: Riccardo Niels Mayer / fotolia.com) Young children more vulnerable to environmental influences
Already last fall, the Unicef children's aid organization reported that hundreds of thousands of children die each year from air pollution.
Small children are particularly at risk from inhaling smoke when cooking on fireplaces and from particulate matter in the open air, from adult cigarette smoke and other stress.
"A polluted environment is deadly - especially for young children," said WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan. "Their still-growing organs, their immune systems, their smaller bodies and airways make children particularly vulnerable to dirty air and dirty water."
Life-long increased risk of respiratory diseases
Damage can begin in the womb. Children who are exposed to high levels of air pollution sometimes have a life-long increased risk of chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma. In addition, the risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer can increase.
According to reports, respiratory infections, diarrhea, first-month complications of poor maternal health care, malaria and accidents such as poisoning, drowning and falls are the top five causes of death for small children.
How the situation could be improved
The WHO sees great need for action. In an accompanying report entitled "Do not pollute my future! The Impact of the Environment on Children's Health ", the experts discuss how the situation could be improved.
For example, families in poor countries need cooking and heating without smoke, schools need good toilets and health stations need clean water and reliable electricity.
In addition, cities need more green space and safer pedestrian and cycle paths, public transport should produce less emissions and industry must reduce the use of chemicals and better dispose of toxic waste.
"Investing in eliminating environmental health risks, such as improving water quality or using clean fuels, will result in massive health benefits," Dr. Maria Neira, WHO Director of Public Health. (Ad)