The Lancet Commission published a report on October 19, 2017 that outlined the results of pollution and health. The report concluded that 9 million people suffered premature deaths due to pollution in 2015.
“Pollution is the largest environmental cause of disease and premature death in the world today. Diseases caused by pollution were responsible for an estimated 9 million premature deaths in 2015—16% of all deaths worldwide—three times more deaths than from AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined and 15 times more than from all wars and other forms of violence. In the most severely affected countries, pollution-related disease is responsible for more than one death in four,” the report states.
Air pollution is the leading cause of death followed by water pollution. The financial cost from pollution-related death, sickness and welfare costs about $4.6 trillion in annual losses.
The report highlights:
- Air pollution was linked to 6.5 million premature deaths;
- Water pollution was linked to 1.8 million premature deaths;
- Workplace pollution was linked to 1 million premature deaths;
- Premature deaths resulting from pollution-related diseases like heart disease and cancer outnumbered AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined 3 to 1;
- About 92% of all premature deaths linked to pollution occur in low and middle-income countries.
- Up to one in four deaths can be attributed to pollution in countries like China, India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh.
- In absolute numbers, China (1.8 million) and India (2.5 million) had the most pollution-related deaths for the year 2015.
- The United States, home to the world’s biggest economy, saw 155,000 premature deaths linked to pollution in 2015.
MORE REFERENCES
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