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. 2022 Jul 5;59(6):447–450. doi: 10.1007/s13312-022-2532-3

Impact of Air Pollution on Child Health in India and the Way Forward

Sagnik Dey 1,✉
PMCID: PMC9253235  PMID: 35695140

Abstract

Recent research in epidemiological modelling reveals that air pollution affects child health in various ways resulting in low birthweight, stillbirth, preterm birth, developmental delay, growth failure, poor respiratory and cardiovascular health, and a higher risk of anemia. India has embarked on the national clean air program, but a much stronger coordinated multi-sectoral approach is required to minimize the child health burden caused by air pollution. Air pollution should be treated as a public health crisis that can only be managed with policy backed by science, gradual transition to clean energy use, emission reduction supported by clean air technologies, long-term commitment from the Government, and cooperation of the citizens.

Keywords: Clear air, National clean air program, PM2.5, Under-5 mortality

Funding

IIT Delhi, Institute Chair Fellowship; Research funding from the Central Pollution Control Board and the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, and SERB, Government of India through various projects; and DST-FIST for computing support;

Footnotes

Note

The data that is used to generate Fig. 1 has been provided at the GBD India data portal for free use.

Competing interests

None stated.

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