Every year, billions of children suffer from illnesses related to environmental risks. Ambient air pollution and mercury poisoning are linked to a shocking 1.7 million child deaths under the age of 5 each year. Reducing environmental risks to children’s health in Central Asian countries, like Mongolia, through changing energy usage practices and reducing child exposure to mercury and other toxic materials would prevent an estimated one in five child deaths annually.

Household Air Pollution (HAP)

An annual 2.9 million deaths are attributed to HAP worldwide. Some common conditions include ischaemic heart disease, stroke and lower respiratory infections, which cause a total of 76% of HAP-related deaths per year. In Mongolia, where coal is the predominant energy source for those living in poverty, indoor and outdoor air pollution cause 132 out of every 100,000 people to die prematurely each year.

Ulaanbaatar is the capital city of Mongolia. With 60% of the city’s population living in ger districts and many living in traditional felt tents, known as “gers” and small houses, a large number of children are exposed to extreme levels of HAP every day.

The country’s harsh climate, which can cause temperatures to plummet to as low as -20°C, forces Mongolians to heavily rely upon coal to survive, with three to six tons being burned annually in order to cook and provide warmth to their homes.

A study by Zaiyou Dai and colleagues in 2025 investigated the effects of HAP on the health of 1,279 infants by monitoring their health at 7, 13 and 36 months. They found the following results:

• A positive correlation between the HAP score and the hazard ratio for pneumonia, which increased by 2% for every HAP score increase.
• A positive correlation between HAP score and height for age (HAZ) score, which decreased as exposure to HAP increased.

The incomplete combustion caused by burning other materials, such as wood and charcoal, can also result in the emission of toxic gases like carbon monoxide. As one of the biggest environmental risks to children’s health in Central Asia, it is critical that energy production shift permanently away from burning these fossil fuels.

Mercury Poisoning

Mercury can be extremely harmful if consumed or inhaled. Central Asia has some of the most mercury-contaminated countries on the planet. For example, China contributes more than 600 tons of Hg to global emissions.

Toxic to humans, most people who experience mercury poisoning have come into contact with the chemical element by eating contaminated fish or inhaling vapors during industrial processing. Exposure can cause difficulties in child development both in utero and early life, as well as the following issues:

• Toxic and damaged kidneys
• Dysfunctional motor and cognitive skills
• Impaired neuromuscular functions.

Due to fish being a key food source for lower-income families, children all over the world are put at risk of mercury poisoning. A study by Zhen-Yan Gao and colleagues in 2015 found that more than 14,000 Chinese children aged 0 to 6 years old had higher mercury levels than normal, with concentrations rising significantly if their diets included the frequent consumption of fish. These levels are an extreme cause for concern.

Ultraviolet Radiation

Ultraviolet rays, which individuals are vulnerable to during any exposure to sunlight, can be a useful source of much-needed vitamin D, but they can also have some disastrous and harmful effects. Because they are immunosuppressive, UV-B rays can cause skin damage and autoimmune diseases like lupus.

Sufferers of lupus, otherwise known as systemic lupus erythematosus, often experience:

• Joint and muscle pain
• Rashes caused by sun exposure
• Weight and hair loss.

A long-term condition, lupus is life-changing and, while rare, about 15-20% of lupus patients are diagnosed as children. As the ozone layer slowly thins due to the changing climate, it is more critical than ever to protect children’s skin and their health from ultraviolet radiation.

While new environmental issues arise every day, it is also important to acknowledge the progress being made toward protecting children’s health. People from hundreds of nations are collaborating to find solutions to the many environmental risks to children’s health in Central Asia.

UNICEF and Its Fight Against Air Pollution

In 2021, UNICEF launched a program called UniSat, which was designed to help protect children’s health in Central Asia by educating youths. Girls from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan were taught how to use nanosatellites and other technology that can be used to monitor air, so the future generation can make life-saving, progressive changes that will reduce air pollution in their country and consequently protect thousands of children’s health.

The staggering loss of 1.7 million lives each year emphasizes the significance of the environment and its impact on health, a harsh reality now catalyzing countless life-changing, innovative programs and policies, such as UniSat and the Minamata Convention. With the ever-changing climate and a surge in pollution worldwide, it is now more important than ever to rethink energy usage and direct attention toward achieving a safe environment where children can thrive, not just survive.

– Ruby Fraser

Ruby is based in Cannes, France and focuses on Global Health, Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay