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In China, over a million people lose their lives annually due to poor air quality, as documented by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images.New global research reveals that air pollution causes 5.5 million premature deaths worldwide each year, with both outdoor and household pollution contributing to these fatalities.
The majority of these deaths occur in China and India, the two most populous countries and rapidly growing economies. Though they make up only 36% of the world's population, they account for 55% of global pollution-related deaths, indicating a heightened risk for residents of these nations.
Air pollution affects the human body in multiple ways, with cardiovascular diseases being the leading cause of death. Additionally, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and respiratory infections also contribute significantly to the death toll.
"Air pollution ranks as the fourth most significant global risk factor for death and is by far the leading environmental cause of disease," stated Michael Brauer, a professor at the University of British Columbia's School of Population and Public Health in Vancouver, Canada. "Mitigating air pollution is one of the most effective ways to enhance public health."
Researchers from China, India, Canada, and the United States collaborated on the study, sharing data and presenting their findings at the 2016 annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
In 2013, air pollution was responsible for 1.6 million deaths in China and 1.4 million deaths in India, according to the researchers. The main contributor to China's air pollution is coal combustion, while in India, the burning of biomass—such as wood, dung, and other materials—serves as the primary source of pollution from cooking and heating.
"Our research underscores the critical need for more robust measures to cut emissions from coal and other sectors," commented Qiao Ma, a doctoral student at the School of Environment, Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.
New studies reveal that over 5.5 million people around the world lose their lives prematurely each year due to air pollution, both indoors and outdoors.
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington reports these findings.Both Beijing and New Delhi experience particulate levels in the air that are at or above 300 micrograms per cubic meter during this season—an alarming 1,200% above the limits set by the World Health Organization. A staggering 85% of the global population resides in areas where air quality exceeds these recommended guidelines.
