Staff Reporter :
A newly released report has brought to light a staggering revelation: air pollution is responsible for over 40 percent of child deaths in countries such as Bangladesh.
This finding, detailed in the 2024 State of Global Air (SoGA) report by the Health Effects Institute (HEI) in collaboration with UNICEF, underscores a dire public health crisis exacerbated by hazardous air quality in several regions across the globe.
Bangladesh, situated in South Asia alongside other nations in Africa, faces an acute burden of disease directly linked to air pollution.
In 2021 alone, more than 235,000 deaths were attributed to air pollution in Bangladesh, highlighting the profound impact on public health. Shockingly, over 19,000 deaths of children under five in Bangladesh were linked to air pollution-related conditions during the same year.
Children under five years old are particularly vulnerable, bearing the brunt of health consequences ranging from premature birth and low birth weight to asthma and respiratory diseases.
The report underscores that in Bangladesh, as well as in various African and Asian countries, over 40 percent of deaths from lower respiratory tract infections in young children are attributable to air pollution.
Globally, exposure to air pollution in 2021 was responsible for more than 700,000 deaths among children under five, positioning it as the second-leading risk factor for mortality in this age group, surpassed only by malnutrition.
Alarmingly, a substantial portion of these deaths—approximately 500,000—stemmed from household air pollution, primarily caused by indoor cooking with polluting fuels, prevalent in regions like Africa and Asia.
Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh, expressed grave concern over the findings, highlighting the disproportionate impact on children’s health. “Children are the most vulnerable to the detriments of poor air quality, suffering from diseases such as asthma and pneumonia.”
She emphasised the urgent need for action, saying, “It is critical that we implement sustainable solutions to improve air quality, not just for the health of our children today but for future generations.”
As per the report, Bangladesh experiences significant ozone exposure, contributing to air pollution-related diseases.
Nearly 50 percent of all ozone-related chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) deaths globally occurred in 2021.
It showed that 237,000 deaths occurred in India, followed by China (125,600 deaths) and Bangladesh (15,000 deaths).
It stated in detail the important health impacts of air pollution on children. They are uniquely vulnerable, and the damage from air pollution can start in the womb, with health effects that can last a lifetime. Children inhale more air per kilogramme of body weight and absorb more pollutants relative to adults, while their lungs, bodies, and brains are still developing.
The contribution of air pollution to ischemic heart disease is 28 percent on average globally; this ranges from less than 10 percent in high-income countries such as Finland, Norway, Australia, and Canada to more than 40 percent in countries in East, West, Central, and Southern Africa and South Asia, including Bangladesh, Nigeria, Kenya, and Rwanda.
The latest SoGA report has served as a bleak reminder of the health implications of air pollution and the urgent need for concerted efforts to address this global health crisis.
Countries around the world are struggling to enhance public health policies, while Bangladesh faces a crucial challenge in tackling air pollution to safeguard the health of its population, particularly children.