Air pollution was responsible for over 235,000 deaths in Bangladesh in 2021, a newly released report from the Health Effects Institute (HEI) and UNICEF reveals.

The latest State of Global Air (SoGA) 2024 report highlights that countries in South Asia, along with regions in Africa, face the highest burden of disease due to air pollution. Notably, children under five years old are especially affected, with health issues including premature birth, low birth weight, asthma, and lung diseases.

The report indicates that in several countries in Africa and Asia, including Bangladesh, more than 40% of deaths from lower-respiratory tract infections in children under five are linked to air pollution. In Bangladesh alone, over 19,000 children under the age of the age of five died in 2021 due to air pollution-related conditions.

Sheldon Yett, UNICEF representative to Bangladesh, underscores the critical need for action, saying, "The health of millions, particularly children, is at stake. Children are the most vulnerable to the detriments of poor air quality, suffering from diseases such as asthma and pneumonia. It is critical that we implement sustainable solutions to improve air quality, not just for the health of our children today, but for future generations."

The report also notes significant ozone exposure in Bangladesh, contributing to air pollution-related diseases. In 2021, Bangladesh saw 15,000 deaths from ozone-related Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), making it one of the highest globally after India and China.

Children are uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of air pollution, with damage starting in the womb and lasting a lifetime. They inhale more air relative to their body weight compared to adults, absorbing more pollutants while their lungs, bodies, and brains are still developing.