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Picture Courtesy: Down To Earth

Context:

Short-term exposure to fine particulate matter from landscape fires (LFS PM2.5) has been linked to a significant increase in hospital admissions among children and adolescents.

Current Status:

• The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reports that over 100 children under the age of five die daily in East Asia and the Pacific due to air pollution, with PM2.5 exposure linked to nearly one in four deaths in this age group. 

• A study published in Nature Communications in October 2025 found that short-term exposure to landscape fire-sourced PM2.5 is associated with increased hospital admissions for various diseases in children and adolescents. Conditions such as respiratory, infectious, cardiovascular, neurological, diabetes, cancer, and digestive diseases showed elevated risks with each 10 µg/m³ increase in PM2.5 exposure. 

• Regions like Delhi experience PM2.5 levels significantly above the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended limits, contributing to higher rates of stunting and other health issues among children. 

• Case study: In Thailand, approximately 6 million children are highly exposed to PM2.5, surpassing those affected by other climate hazards like floods and heatwaves. This exposure increases the risk of premature birth, low birth weight, and neurodevelopmental disorders. 

How PM 2.5 exposure impacts Children and adolescents?

Respiratory System Impacts

• Increased Risk of Respiratory Infections: Children are more prone to acute respiratory infections (ARI), bronchitis, and pneumonia when exposed to elevated PM2.5 levels. 

Cardiovascular Impacts

• Elevated Heart Risks:5 can increase inflammation and oxidative stress, affecting cardiovascular health even in younger populations. 

Neurological Impacts

• Cognitive and Behavioural Effects: Chronic PM2.5 exposure is associated with developmental delays, reduced attention span, and impaired learning outcomes. 

Immune System Impacts

• Weakened Immunity: Fine particulate matter can impair immune system function, making children more susceptible to infections. 

Linkages Between PM2.5 Exposure and Poverty in Children:

Higher Exposure in Low-Income Areas

• Location of Residences: Poorer communities often live near industrial zones, busy roads, or areas prone to biomass burning, resulting in higher ambient PM2.5 levels.
• Indoor Air Pollution: Use of solid fuels like wood, coal, or crop residue for cooking and heating increases indoor PM2.5 exposure. 

Health Vulnerabilities

• Limited Access to Healthcare: Children from low-income families often have delayed diagnosis and treatment for respiratory, cardiovascular, and infectious diseases triggered by PM2.5 exposure. 

Socioeconomic Gradient in Health Impacts

• Studies indicate that children in low-GDP per capita regions show higher risks of hospital admissions due to PM2.5 exposure than those in wealthier areas.
• Upper-middle and low-income regions see elevated rates of digestive, infectious, and all-cause hospital admissions in children during high pollution episodes. 

Education and Developmental Impacts

• Chronic exposure to PM2.5 can impair cognitive development, attention span, and school performance.
• Poor children often lack access to resources like air purifiers or clean indoor spaces, exacerbating developmental setbacks. 

Challenges in reducing PM 2.5 Level in children:

• High Ambient Pollution: Urban areas and industrial zones consistently record 5 levels above safe limits. 

• Indoor Air Pollution: Use of biomass fuels, coal, and kerosene for cooking and heating in many households exposes children to high PM2.5 indoors. 

• Vulnerability of Children: Children have smaller lungs and faster breathing rates, increasing PM2.5 intake. 

• Socioeconomic Constraints: Low-income families often live near pollution hotspots and lack access to air purifiers or clean indoor environments.
• Lack of Awareness: Parents and caregivers may underestimate pollution risks. 

• Limited Monitoring and Data: Sparse or uneven air quality monitoring across cities and rural areas hinders timely interventions. 

Government Measures:

Way Forward:

Strengthen Air Quality Monitoring:

• Expand real-time PM2.5 monitoring to rural and semi-urban areas.
• Use high-resolution data to identify hotspots and target interventions effectively.

Control Ambient Pollution

• Strict enforcement of vehicular emission norms and industrial regulations.
• Promote clean energy alternatives and green urban planning.

Improve Indoor Air Quality

• Expand access to LPG or clean cooking fuels under schemes like PMUY.
• Promote ventilation improvements and air filtration systems in homes and schools. 

Protect Vulnerable Children

• Develop child-specific guidelines for exposure limits, outdoor activity, and school hours.
• Ensure equitable access to healthcare in high pollution zones. 

Awareness and Education

• Conduct public awareness campaigns targeting parents, teachers, and communities.
• Educate on early signs of PM2.5-related illnesses and preventive measures. 

Research and Data-Driven Policy

• Support epidemiological studies linking PM2.5 exposure with child health outcomes.
• Use evidence to refine air quality standards and interventions. 

Conclusion:

Addressing PM2.5 pollution is not just an environmental imperative but a child health and development priority, requiring urgent, sustained, and targeted action. 

Source: Down to Earth