According to the latest report from the World Health Organization (WHO) more than 1.5 million children under the age of 5 die every year because of second-hand smoke, dirty water, poor sanitation, inadequate hygiene, and air pollution.

The WHO report also points out that 11 to 14 percent of children aged five and up have asthma symptoms and around 44 percent are linked to the environment. The problems can start early inside a mother’s womb, but these health issues are preventable. The WHO tries to raise awareness and bring attention to these issues and help people understand that their decisions about the environment can greatly affect the children worldwide.

pollution kills children