A UNICEF report shows that air pollution is an emerging threat to human health and is ranked as the second-biggest risk factor for premature death globally, and is ranked after high blood pressure.
About 700 thousand children under five died from the impact of air pollution in 2021. Children are especially susceptible to air pollution, and it is possible to be affected even before birth. The report also pointed out that air pollution killed 8.1 million people globally in 2021 and millions of other people had diseases related to air pollution.
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The report identifies outdoor fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emitted through the burning of fossil fuel and biomass, industries, and transport as being responsible for more than 90% of all illness and death caused by air pollution. The other chief air pollutants are ozone and nitrogen dioxide.
