Babies in South Asia were worst affected, with more than 12 million living in areas with pollution six times higher than safe levels. A further four million were at risk in East Asia and the Pacific.
南亚的婴儿受环境污染影响最为严重,有超过1200万的孩子生活在污染超标六倍的环境当中。而在东亚和太平洋地区,则有超过400万的孩子受到影响。
Unicef said breathing particulate air pollution could damage brain tissue and undermine cognitive development.
联合国儿童基金会称,吸入特定的有害气体,可能会损坏脑组织并降低认知能力。
Its report said there was a link to "verbal and non-verbal IQ and memory, reduced test scores, grade point averages among schoolchildren, as well as other neurological behavioural problems". The effects lasted a lifetime.
该基金会的报告称,环境污染与“语言和非语言智力、学生不断降低的测试成绩、平均成绩以及其他神经问题”都有联系,而这种影响会持续终身。
As more and more of the world urbanises, and without adequate protection and pollution reduction measures, more children will be at risk in the years to come," Unicef said.
联合国儿童基金会称,随着世界各地城市化越来越普及,但却没有任何合适的保护以及降低污染的措施,未来将会有更多的孩子被暴露于环境污染的危险之中。
It called for wider use of face masks and air filtering systems, and for children not to travel during spikes in pollution.
该基金会呼吁在污染高峰期间,要大范围使用口罩,而且尽量不要外出。
Last month hazardous smog began blanketing the Indian capital Delhi, prompting the Indian capital's chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to say the city had become a "gas chamber".
上个月,印度首都德里发生了严重的雾霾,德里首席部长凯杰·里沃得尔称该市已经成为一个毒气室。
Some schools in the city were closed but there was criticism when they re-opened, with parents accusing the authorities of disregarding their children's health.
德里的很多学校停课,当这些学校恢复上课后,遭到了一系列批评,家长们指责学校罔顾孩子们的健康。
Indian and Sri Lankan cricketers playing in Delhi vomited on the pitch during high levels of pollution.
此外,由于空气污染太过严重,印度和斯里兰卡的板球运动员竟然在比赛期间就在球场上呕吐起来。
Satellite imagery used to compile the data also revealed that the issue was growing in African cities, Unicef said.
联合国儿童基金会称,用来收集数据的卫星云图显示,在非洲,这一污染问题也在逐渐加重。
Meanwhile a separate study by scientists at hospitals in London found that the British city's polluted air was leading to lower birth weights, linked to higher infant mortality.
此外,一项由伦敦科学家进行的独立研究显示,英国城市的污染的空气,导致了新生儿出生体重过轻,并且与更高的婴儿死亡率有所关联。