Doctors, Child Rights activists came together at a webinar organised by SwitchON Foundation, on the impact of air pollution on children focusing on West Bengal. The webinar highlighted the damage caused to children’s health in lieu of rising air pollution in Bengal and its neighboring state Jharkhand. A high level panel discussion was also organized as a part of the virtual event.
Over the years experts have been saying that children are more vulnerable to pollution because their lungs are underdeveloped and their immune systems are weaker. Experts say children are more vulnerable to pollution because their lungs are underdeveloped and their immune systems are weaker. And yet, nine out of 10 children around the world are breathing in toxins that exceed safe levels. Over the years, the situation has become critical, even global bodies like UNICEF have predicted that air pollution will become the leading cause of child mortality by 2050.
The virtual event was attended by distinguished experts and doctors from Kolkata, who were highlighting the need for an immediate public intervention on the issue. Campaigners and subject experts from different organizations working on the issue of Child Rights and Air Pollution also attended the event.
“All children should have the right to breathe clean air. Despite this an entire generation of children are in jeopardy today, this is unforgivable. Every child should be able to breathe clean air so they can grow and enjoy the natural world as generations before have” said Vinay Jaju,
Delivering a special address during the event Dr Manas Ranjan Ray, Former Assistant Director ,Chittaranjan Cancer Research Institute, Kolkata “Air pollution affects everyone , but most susceptible are the children. It is ..unlikely that the deficits in lung function at the age of 17 years that have been found in a large number of schoolchildren will be reversed as they complete the transition into adulthood”
Kolkata based, Dr Arup Haldar, a senior pulmonologist from the Woodlands Superspeciality Hospital Kolkata attending the webinar said – “The fine and ultrafine particulate matters may directly traverse blood vessels and affect the heart and become a systemic inflammation. It can cause diabetes, dementia and even hampers the neurological development in children. The recent State of Global Air (SOGA) report linked air pollution to even as a cause of neonatal mortality (as Preterm birth and low birth weight babies).”
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