Delhi’s air quality is steadily deteriorating. Young children, who are forced to breathe this polluted air daily, are the worst affected. Doctors say this polluted air is harming not only their health but also their future.
The air quality in the city has deteriorated so much that children’s lungs are weakening at an early age. Many children start coughing as soon as they reach school in the morning and are unable to concentrate. Parents are also extremely worried. They say that their coughs worsen when they go outside to play, so they have to keep their children indoors.
According to experts, PM2.5, the fine particles in the air, are the most dangerous for children. A report states that more than 100,000 children under the age of 5 die every year due to air pollution alone. Prolonged exposure to such air impairs children’s lungs’ proper development and weakens their immune system.
A new 2024 study from the United States has revealed that pollution is also affecting children’s mental development. It found that polluted air reduces children’s IQ, memory, attention, and learning ability.
School teachers also report that many children feel tired, cough, and uneasy upon entering class. Doctors say that cases of asthma, pneumonia, and allergies have increased sharply this season. This has also affected children’s school attendance.
UNICEF has declared air pollution a national emergency and said that millions of children in the country are in serious danger. UNICEF says that clean air is not a privilege, but a right of every child. Delhi’s children need better air, and they need it now.
