Pollution is one of the most pressing global health challenges of our time. While its effects are serious for people of all ages, scientific evidence shows that children suffer disproportionately compared to adults. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, more than 90% of the world’s children breathe toxic air daily, exposing them to a lifetime of health risks.
Children are not simply “small adults.” Their bodies are developing rapidly, and this growth makes them biologically more sensitive to environmental hazards like pollution. Children breathe more air relative to their body weight than adults — roughly twice as much per kilogram — meaning they inhale a higher dose of toxic particles for the same level of pollution.
Moreover, their lungs and immune systems are still forming, so they lack the defense mechanisms that adults have developed over time. Pollutants such as fine particulate matter can penetrate deep into the lungs, causing inflammation, reduced lung function, and increased susceptibility to respiratory infections.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, has emphasized this risk, stating, “Polluted air is poisoning millions of children and ruining their lives. This is inexcusable. Every child should be able to breathe clean air so they can grow and fulfil their full potential.” The WHO notes, Once born, children’s developing brains are also at risk. Studies have shown that early exposure to air pollutants is linked with neurodevelopmental delays and cognitive damage, including impacts on memory, attention, and IQ. These neurological effects are particularly concerning because they can influence a child’s educational and social outcomes later in life.
Prof. Ravindra Khaiwal — Department of Community Medicine & School of Public Health, PGI, Chandigarh highlights the health risks of air pollution for vulnerable populations, including children, adding, “The sharp increase in very poor air quality days directly exposes children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with existing conditions to serious health risks.”
Dr. Shrishailesh Mantur; Consultant – Pediatrics & Neonatology, Apollo Cradles & Children’s Hospital, Kormangala, Bangalore points out,Children are more sensitive to air pollution because their bodies are still growing- they breathe faster than adults, Also, take in more air for their size. This is especially concerning during outdoor play near busy roads or industrial sites. The alveoli, enabling oxygen exchange, continue forming until about eight years of age. Exposure to pollutants, including fine particulate matter, may impair normal lung growth and result in long-term decreases in lung capacity.
Exposure to air pollution in childhood produces both immediate and lifelong health consequences. Respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia often appear early. In contrast, repeated exposure can permanently limit lung function. Moreover, they raise the risk of chronic respiratory disease in adulthood. Clinics in heavily polluted urban areas increasingly report cases of irreversible airway obstruction in kids, conditions previously considered diseases of older age. Children encounter air pollutants in both outdoor and indoor environments. Vehicular emissions generate nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and fine particulates capable of reaching the lower respiratory tract. Industrial activity and construction dust also compromise ambient air quality.
As per UNICEF, Children’s behavior and lifestyle also increase their exposure. They often spend more time outdoors playing, including during peak pollution hours. Their smaller stature means they breathe air closer to the ground where certain pollutants can be more concentrated. Additionally, young children tend to breathe through their mouths, bypassing some nasal filtration systems, further increasing pollutant intake.
Dr. Shefali Gulati, Faculty In-Charge of the Child Neurology Division at AIIMS, says, children are particularly vulnerable to polluted air because they breathe more relative to their body weight, and their developing lungs and immune systems are less equipped to cope with toxic exposure.
