1.7 KiB
1.7 KiB
Air Pollution
Air pollution, primarily caused by the same energy emission that harms the climate, has detrimental effects on public health, including premature death, lung disease, and cancer.
- World Health Organization - Air Pollution Impacts
- Air pollution kills an estimated 7 million people worldwide every year (Millions in Asia and hundreds of thousands in Europe & the Americas)
- 9 out of 10 people breathe air containing high levels of pollutants.
- 97% of cities in low- and middle- income countries with more than 100,000 inhabitants do not meet WHO air quality guidelines.
- 43% of all lung disease and lung cancer deaths are attributable to air pollution. Air pollution causes 1.8 million deaths due to lung disease and cancer every year.
- As air quality declines, the risk of stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including asthma, increases.
- World Health Organization - Air Pollution Causes
- Major outdoor pollution sources include vehicles, power generation, building heating systems, agriculture/waste incineration and industry.
- More than 3 billion people worldwide rely on polluting technologies and fuels
- Air quality is closely linked to earth’s climate and ecosystems globally. Many of the drivers of air pollution (i.e. combustion of fossil fuels) are also sources of high CO2 emissions.
- Some air pollutants such as ozone and black carbon are short-lived climate pollutants that greatly contribute to climate change and affect agricultural productivity.