In a shocking revelation, more than 1 in 4 deaths of children below 5 years are happening due to unhealthy environments. According to the latest findings of World Health Organization (WHO), every year, environmental risks – such as indoor and outdoor air pollution, second-hand smoke, unsafe water, lack of sanitation and inadequate hygiene – take the lives of 1.7 million children under 5 years. The emerging environmental hazards, such as electronic and electrical waste (old mobile phones) that is improperly recycled, expose children to toxins which lead to several life-threatening diseases, including cancer. The WHO has forecast that electronic and electrical waste would increase up to 50 million metric tonne a year by 2018. The study reported that about 5.70 lakh kids below 5 years die from respiratory infections, such as pneumonia, while 3.61 lakh children of the same age group die due to diarrhoea, as a result of poor access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene. "A total of 2.70 lakh kids die during their first month of life from prematurity, while 2 lakh deaths of children under 5 years are reported from malaria, which could be prevented by reducing breeding sites of mosquitoes or covering drinking-water storage," the report said. The report further said that about 2 lakh children die from unintentional injuries attributable to the environment, such as poisonings, falls and drowning. The first report, titled "Inheriting a sustainable world: Atlas on children's health and environment" reveals that most common causes of death among children aged 1 month to 5 years are diarrhoea, malaria and pneumonia. All these common causes are preventable by interventions known to reduce environmental risks, such as access to safe water and clean cooking fuels, the WHO said in its report. "A polluted environment is a deadly one – particularly for young children. Their developing organs and immune systems, and smaller bodies and airways, make them especially vulnerable to dirty air and water," noted Margaret Chan, the WHO Director-General.