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UNICEF report says 300 million children worldwide live in toxic air

Xinhua, October 31, 2016 Adjust font size:

Around 300 million children live in areas with severe air pollution, at least six times higher than international limits, the U.N. children's agency UNICEF said Monday.

Air pollution, both outdoor and indoor, is a major contributing factor in the deaths of around 600,000 children under five years old every year and threatens the health, lives and futures of millions more, UNICEF noted in a newly-released report.

"Children are uniquely vulnerable to air pollution, breathing faster than adults on average and taking in more air relative to their body weight," said UNICEF.

According to the agency, children's lungs, brains and immune systems are still developing, which make them more susceptible to polluted air that could cause lifetime harm.

South Asia has 620 million children, the largest number worldwide, living in areas where outdoor air pollution exceeds minimum air quality guidelines set by the World Health Organization, noted UNICEF.

It added that indoor pollution is commonly caused by use of fuels like coal and wood for cooking and heating, which mostly affects children in low-income and rural areas.

UNICEF said in the report that measures should be taken by all countries to monitor and reduce air pollution, minimize children's exposure to air pollution and increase their access to healthcare.

The report entitled "Clear the air for children" was released ahead of the upcoming 22nd Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 22).

The meeting, slated for Nov. 7 to 18 in Morocco's Marrakesh, aims to urge all countries to take soonest actions to cut air pollution. Endi