On March 25, the World Health Organization released data from 2012 that estimated around 7 million people died that year as a result of air pollution exposure. That’s 1 person in every 8.
The new data also showed a stronger link between both inoor and outdoor air pollution exposure and cardiovascular diseases, and between air pollution and cancer, This is in addition to air pollution’s known role in the development of respiratory diseases.
Outdoor air pollution-caused deaths — breakdown by disease:
40% — ischaemic heart disease
40% — stroke
11% — chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
6% – lung cancer
3% — acute lower respiratory infections in children
Indoor air pollution-caused deaths — breakdown by disease:
34% – stroke
26% – ischaemic heart disease
22% – COPD
12% – acute lower respiratory infections in children
6% – lung cancer
WHO estimates indoor air pollution was linked to 4.3 million deaths in 2012 in households cooking over coal, wood and biomass stoves. This produces particulate matter air pollution, which is linked to such diseases as ischaemic heart disease, strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, respiratory infections, and lung cancer.
I’m wondering if the number would be even higher if they considered deaths from other sources of indoor air pollution as well.
SOURCE:
WHO: 7 million premature deaths annually linked to air pollution
WHO: 7 million deaths annually linked to air pollution
World Health Organization Confirms Air Pollution Is World’s Single Largest Preventable Health Risk
The following week I interviewed Mary Rozenberg, Co-Founder of the Burning Issues website, on Toxic Free Talk Radio. Her website is all about the health effects of fine particle air pollution and what each of us can do to reduce our exposure individually and within our communiites. Listen to the interview at How Smoke From Fireplaces, Wood Stoves, BBQs and More Contribute to Outdoor Air Pollution and Affect Our Health.
