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The Impact of Air Pollution on Children's Health

Human Rights Research Center

January 29, 2025


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Glossary


  • Agricultural runoff: the surface runoff from farmland's excess water as a result of irrigation or rainfall.

  • Asthma: is a chronic disease in which the bronchial airways in the lungs become narrowed and swollen, making it difficult to breathe.

  • Brick kilns: a kiln in which bricks are baked or burned.

  • DALYs: One DALY represents the loss of the equivalent of one year of full health. DALYs for a disease or health condition are the sum of the years of life lost due to premature mortality (YLLs) and the years lived with a disability (YLDs) due to prevalent cases of the disease or health condition in a population.

  • Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacteria that is commonly found in the gut of humans and warm-blooded animals. Most strains of E. coli are harmless, but some can cause serious food poisoning.

  • Greenhouse gases (GHGs): are gases in the earth's atmosphere that trap heat.

  • Methane: colorless, odorless gas that occurs abundantly in nature and as a product of certain human activities.

  • Nationally determined contributions (NDCs) : Part of the Paris Agreement, NDCs embody efforts by each country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

  • Particulate matter is categorized by size:

    • PM10 includes particles 10 micrometers or smaller, often coming from dust, construction, wildfires, and agriculture.

    • PM2.5, even finer particles from burning fuels like gasoline, diesel, and wood, can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, posing a greater health risk.

  • Pneumonia: is an infection of one or both lungs caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. It is a serious infection in which the air sacs fill with pus and other liquid.

  • Preeclampsia: is a high blood pressure (hypertension) disorder that can occur during pregnancy.

  • Regenerative agriculture: based on various agricultural and ecological practices, with a particular emphasis on minimal soil disturbance and the practice of composting.

  • Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) Powerful climate forcers that remain in the atmosphere for a much shorter period of time than carbon dioxide.

  • Stubble burning: In late-October and November, farmers in northern India burn off crop debris, a practice known as stubble burning.

  • Tuberculosis: is a bacterial disease that usually attacks the lungs. But it can also attack other parts of the body, including the kidneys, spine, and brain.

  • Upper respiratory infection: it affects the upper part of your respiratory system, including your sinuses and throat.


 

Databases:




 

Sources


  1. CCAC Coalition: (2024). Nigeria Aims for Methane Cuts, Potentially Averting 30,000 Air Pollution Deaths Every Year. https://www.ccacoalition.org/news/nigeria-aims-methane-cuts-potentially-averting-30000-air-pollution-deaths-every-year-0#:~:text=Nigeria%20took%20a%20bold%20step,commitment%20to%20mitigating%20climate%20change.

  2. CCAC Coalition: Short-lived climate pollutants  https://www.ccacoalition.org/content/short-lived-climate-pollutants

  3. CCAC Coalition: (2024). Pakistan Develops National Clean Air Plan Using Country’s First Air Pollutant Inventory. https://www.ccacoalition.org/news/pakistan-develops-national-clean-air-plan-using-countrys-first-air-pollutant-inventory.

  4. TheIGC: (2024). Health and Environmental Impacts of Brick Kilns. https://www.theigc.org/blogs/climate-priorities-developing-countries/health-and-environmental-impacts-brick-kilns.

  5. PMC: (2024). Over 80% of Ethiopians Rely on Biomass for Cooking. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11019570/#:~:text=Over%2080%25%20of%20Ethiopians%20are,a%20device%20using%20woody%20biomass.

  6. European Environment Agency: (2024). Air Pollution and Children’s Health. https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/air-pollution-and-childrens-health.

  7. UNICEF: (2021). WASH Norm Infographics (Nigeria). https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/media/5956/file/2021WASHNORM%20Infographics.pdf.

  8. ScienceDirect: (2024). Industrial Waste and Resource Management in Nigeria. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950263224000243#:~:text=Industrial%20waste%2C%20agricultural%20runoff%2C%20domestic,resource%20management%20strategies%20in%20Nigeria.

  9. Human Rights Watch: (2023). Pakistan’s Air Pollution Shortens Lives. https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/12/06/pakistans-air-pollution-shortens-lives.

  10. CCAC Coalition: (2024). Ethiopia and Air Pollution. https://www.ccacoalition.org/partners/ethiopia.

  11. Bangladesh Department of Environment: (2020). Environmental Management and Air Quality. http://doe.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/doe.portal.gov.bd/page/cdbe516f_1756_426f_af6b_3ae9f35a78a4/2020-06-10-10-14-5c997af8b7845a59a5f8dd1c41dd7f13.pdf.

  12. California Air Resources Board: (2024). Inhalable Particulate Matter and Health. https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/inhalable-particulate-matter-and-health.

  13. World Bank: (2024). Catalyzing Clean Air in India. https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/india/publication/catalyzing-clean-air-in-india#:~:text=A%20strong%20emphasis%20on%20expanding,taking%20to%20combat%20air%20pollution.

  14. WHO: (2023). Improving access to water, sanitation, and hygiene can save 1.4 million lives per year. https://www.who.int/news/item/28-06-2023-improving-access-to-water--sanitation-and-hygiene-can-save-1.4-million-lives-per-year--says-new-who-report.

  15. UNICEF: (2023). Triple threat: Water, sanitation, and hygiene – Impact on children. https://www.unicef.org/media/137206/file/triple-threat-wash-EN.pdf.

  16. IQAir: (2024). World air quality rankings. https://www.iqair.com/world-air-quality-rankingsrsltid=AfmBOopAxY_8AxfstpcLK7uFtU_s_l_N1B6b1T4nKxF0jkUalbaWqFwZ.

  17. The Economic Times: (2024). Stubble burning: A major cause of Delhi air pollution, a solvable problem. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/stubble-burning-a-major-cause-of-delhi-air-pollution-a-solvable-problem/articleshow/105373412.cms?from=mdr.

  18. State of Global Air: (2024). State of global air report 2024. https://www.stateofglobalair.org/resources/report/state-global-air-report-2024#:~:text=In%202021%2C%20more%20than%20700%2C000,deaths%20in%20children%20under%20five.

  19. Mongabay India: (2024). It’s been 5 years of the National Clean Air Programme; this is why it hasn’t worked. https://india.mongabay.com/2024/09/its-been-5-years-of-the-national-clean-air-programme-this-is-why-it-hasnt-worked/.

  20. UNEP: (2024). How Asian Countries Could Save Lives and Boost Growth by Tackling Air Pollution. https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/how-asian-countries-could-save-lives-boost-growth-tackling-air-pollution.

  21. CCAC Coalition: (2024). Achieving Africa’s Development While Limiting Air Pollution and Climate Change. https://www.ccacoalition.org/news/achieving-africas-development-limiting-air-pollution-and-climate-change-and-protecting-environment.

  22. UNEP: (2024). Africa Could Prevent 880,000 Deaths a Year by Taking Action on Air Pollution. https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/africa-could-prevent-880000-deaths-year-taking-action-air-pollution.

  23. WHO: (2024). https://www.who.int/data/gho/indicator-metadata-registry/imr-details/158.

  24. CCAC Coalition: (2024). Air Pollution Measures in Asia and the Pacific. https://www.ccacoalition.org/content/air-pollution-measures-asia-and-pacific.

  25. National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) - India: (2024). https://prana.cpcb.gov.in/#/home.

  26. National Clean Air Plan (NCAP) - Pakistan: (2024). https://www.ccacoalition.org/policy-database/national-clean-air-policy-ncap.

  27. The nature conservancy (2021) Promoting Regenerative And No-burn Agriculture (PRANA): to Tackle Climate Change in Northwest India  https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/india/our-priorities/prana/ 

  28. Pan American Health Organization (PAHO): Ambient and household air pollution and health: Frequently asked questions.  https://www.paho.org/en/topics/air-quality-and-health/ambient-and-household-air-pollution-and-health-frequently-asked.

  29. Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) - Nigeria: (2024). https://unfccc.int/NDCREG.

  30. National Air Quality Management Plan (NAQMP) – Bangladesh: (2024). http://moef.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/moef.portal.gov.bd/page/ac0ce881_4b1d_4844_a426_1b6ee36d2453/NAQMP%202024%20-2030.pdf.

  31. Integrated Assessment of Air Pollution and Climate Change for Sustainable Development in Africa: (2024). https://www.ccacoalition.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/Summary%20for%20Decision%20Makers_Integrated%20Assessment%20of%20Air%20Pollution%20and%20Climate%20Change%20for%20Sustainable%20Development%20in%20Africa.pdf 

  32. The Air Pollution in Asia and the Pacific: Science-Based Solutions. (2024). https://www.ccacoalition.org/sites/default/files/resources//2019_air-pollution-asia-pacific_summary%20report%28v0225%29.pdf

  33. WHO Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs): https://www.who.int/data/gho/indicator-metadata-registry/imr-details/158

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