[ti:WHO: Environmental Pollution Kills Millions of Children Every Year] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.32]From VOA Learning English, [00:02.76]this is the Health & Lifestyle report. [00:07.08]Environmental pollution kills 1.7 million children [00:12.52]under the age of five every year worldwide. [00:17.44]This is according to the World Health Organization (WHO). [00:22.44]The WHO warns that child deaths will increase greatly [00:27.76]if pollution continues to worsen. [00:32.32]Dr. Margaret Chan is the WHO Director-General. [00:37.64]In a press release statement, Chan said, [00:40.70]"A polluted environment is a deadly one [00:44.52]– particularly for young children." [00:47.76]She explains that "their developing organs and immune systems, [00:52.80]and smaller bodies and airways, [00:55.80]make them especially vulnerable to dirty air and water." [01:00.96]The most common causes of death among children aged one month [01:06.44]to five years are diarrhea, malaria and pneumonia. [01:13.76]This is according to the WHO. [01:17.52]The organization also says reducing environmental risks can prevent such deaths. [01:25.72]This means providing access to safe water and sanitation, [01:31.60]limiting exposure to dangerous chemicals, and improving waste management. [01:39.84]However, of all the environmental pollutants, [01:43.40]air pollution is being called the most dangerous. [01:49.84]The WHO estimates that air pollution is responsible [01:54.24]for about 6.5 million premature, or early, deaths every year. [02:02.84]That number includes nearly 600,000 deaths of children under age five. [02:10.88]Most of these deaths take place in developing countries. [02:16.16]However, WHO environment and health chief Maria Neira [02:21.76]tells VOA that air pollution is a leveler between rich and poor. [02:28.32]Everybody, she says, needs to breathe. [02:32.32]"You can be a very rich child, your parents very rich, [02:37.12]but living in a place, in a city, which is very polluted. [02:40.60]Then there is very little you can do because we all need to breathe. [02:44.84]So, even if you are rich or poor, you still need to breathe [02:49.44]and this is very pernicious. Air pollution is everywhere." [02:53.68]Neira says one of the most important ways to reduce air pollution [02:59.12]is to produce cleaner fuels for cooking and heating. [03:04.00]"Almost half of the world population is using dirty fuels [03:08.78]for cooking, heating, and lighting at home. [03:12.08]And, this is affecting very much mothers who are staying and cooking at home, [03:17.52]but the children who are around mothers—they are exposed as well." [03:22.24]She says early exposure to harmful pollutants can lead to increased risk [03:28.40]of chronic respiratory disease, asthma, heart disease, stroke and cancer later in life. [03:38.76]Cleaning up how the world cooks, heats and lights homes and other buildings is a big-picture goal. [03:47.64]The WHO is advising government departments [03:51.20]and industries such as construction and the health sector [03:56.44]to work together to clean up their environment. [04:01.00]But what about the here and now? [04:03.96]What can individuals do to limit our family's exposure to air pollution? [04:11.20]The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has the following suggestions: [04:17.72]Avoid walking where there is a high volume of vehicle traffic. [04:23.28]Equip homes with air filters and air conditioning units. [04:29.04]Limit your time outside if you live in an area that issues warnings about air quality. [04:37.08]Wear high-grade, rated face masks tightly to the face when air quality is poor. [04:45.00]If you live or commute in a very polluted area, [04:48.68]remove your clothes and wash immediately after entering your house. [04:55.00]Some of these suggestions, however, may not work for some people [04:59.84]-- for example: those living in areas troubled by high levels of pollution, [05:06.04]those who cannot stay home from work or school, [05:09.66]and those who do not have money for protective equipment. [05:14.68]Therefore, the WHO stresses that governments around the world [05:19.52]need to take the lead on ensuring that children grow up in a clean environment. [05:26.32]And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. [05:28.84]I'm Anna Matteo. [05:31.52]Look for follow-up articles here at the Health & Lifestyle report [05:35.92]on other ways you can protect yourself [05:38.72]and your family against environmental pollutants. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM