Scientists have been warning the world that climate change and environmental pollution is going to cause massive casualties in the future. It would seem that this prediction came true much too soon as the World Health Organization just reported that pollution is the cause of a quarter of children’s deaths. Now, the US Environmental Protection Agency is about to become responsible for more dead children by loosening regulations among fossil fuel companies.

WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan emphasized the huge impact of environmental pollutants on the health of people in the report, paying particular attention to children who have yet to reach the age of five. Due to their immature immune systems, younger kids are particularly susceptible to diseases, which climate change and pollution have only spread.

“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,” Dr. Chan had said.

The report goes on to indicate that the harm done to the children actually start during their time in the wombs of their mothers. By breathing dirty air, drinking water that has been exposed to drug-resistant bacteria or factory run-offs, and eating contaminated food, their infants don’t stand a chance.

Some of the causes of these deaths are the alarming increase in premature births. Then there’s the matter of children developing pneumonia due to air pollution and tobacco smoke. As a result, kids become susceptible to having cancer, cardiovascular illnesses, or respiratory issues.

Adding to the danger that the children of the world will have to face, particularly in the US, is the new EPA Administrator’s decision to give the fossil fuel industry the green light to go wild. Scott Pruitt just removed the restrictions on oil and gas companies involving reports on their greenhouse gas emission, Futurism reports. This effectively gave them free reign to pollute the environment as much as they want without facing any consequences.