Thousands of children are facing hospital this winter as cold weather and the UK’s air pollution crisis combine to create potentially deadly conditions for young people, doctors have warned. “We know that the elderly are susceptible to ill health caused by the drop in temperatures, but the impact on young children with respiratory conditions, such as asthma, is often disregarded,” they say. They say the UK is home to more children suffering from respiratory conditions than anywhere else in Europe. “Admissions for people with respiratory conditions almost double during the winter – and the majority of those admitted are young children,” they say. In October, the World Health Organization (WHO) said air pollution was the “new tobacco”, causing 7 million deaths around the world and harming billions more.

Source: The Guardian December 07, 2018 15:00 UTC