Little or no action has been taken in recent years to improve air quality, among other things.

We know by now that air pollution is a major problem. But in a new report researchers come up with straightforward figures. For example, it turns out that pollution claimed nine million lives in 2019; that is 16 percent of all deaths worldwide. And air pollution appears to be responsible for the vast majority of that.

One in six

These are worrying findings. Because it means that one in six deaths in 2019 was due to pollution – the same number as in 2015. Air pollution appears to account for 75 percent of the nine million deaths. For example, polluted air took the lives of about 6.67 million people. Polluted water was responsible for 1.36 million premature deaths and more than 1.8 million people died from toxic chemical pollution (including lead) — a 66 percent increase since 2000.

More about air pollution
Numerous studies in recent years have shown that polluted air leads to health problems† For example, air pollution has already been linked to respiratory problems, cardiovascular disease, dementia and a loss of bone mass. But polluted air also affects our immune system, changing the way our immune system functions. The tricky part about this issue, however, is that air-polluting particles have an invisible effect in our bodies, so that we don’t really realize the seriousness of the situation. But scientists point out that the tiny particles have a greater impact on our life expectancy than communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV and AIDS, cigarette smoking and even war. In areas of Central and West Africa where diseases such as HIV, AIDS and malaria make headlines, air pollution poses an equally serious health threat with a similar impact on life expectancy. Still, it seems we’re ignoring this issue. For example, coal use has increased dramatically in Africa in recent decades and is expected to triple over the next two decades. This makes recognizing air pollution as a growing problem even more important.

The results from the analysis indicate that pollution remains the world’s largest risk factor for illness and premature death, especially in low- and middle-income countries. However, this does not seem to bother governments much. For example, little or no action has been taken in recent years to improve air quality, among other things. “With few exceptions, little has been done to address this public health crisis,” the researchers write in the report. “Attention and funding have increased only marginally since 2015, despite increasing public concern about pollution and its health effects,” said study leader Richard Fuller.

overshadows

Moreover, it appears that a remarkable shift has taken place. Indeed, the increase in deaths from modern types of pollution (such as air and toxic chemical pollution) overshadows progress made in reducing deaths from pollution associated with extreme poverty (such as household air and water pollution). The decline in deaths from traditional pollution since 2000 (think solid fuel pollution and unsafe water) is most evident in Africa. This can be explained by improvements in water supply and sanitation, antibiotics and treatments and cleaner fuels. However, this decline in the death rate has been offset by a significant increase in deaths from exposure to industrial pollution – such as air pollution, lead pollution and other forms of chemical pollution – in all regions over the past 20 years. This is especially evident in Southeast Asia, where increasing industrial pollution is accompanied by an aging population and an increasing number of people exposed to it.

Don’t underestimate

The researchers emphasize that we should not underestimate the consequences of pollution. “Pollution is still the greatest existential threat to human and planet health,” said researcher Philip Landrigan. “It endangers modern societies. And that while preventing pollution can also slow down climate change. So it provides a double benefit to the health of the planet. Our report therefore calls for a massive, rapid transition from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy.”

The researchers emphasize that immediate action is needed to address this existential threat to human and planet health. “Pollution is generally seen as a local problem that needs to be solved through sub-national and state regulation,” said researcher Rachael Kupka. “However, it is clear that pollution is a planetary threat and that its causes, spread and health impacts transcend local boundaries. This therefore requires a worldwide response. In short, global action against all major modern pollutants is desperately needed.”