Pollution causing more deaths worldwide than war or smoking
The toxic effects of pollution are seen across the planet, Pollution globally killing up around nine-million people every single year.
It also costing some $4.6 trillion in annual losses or about 6.2 percent of the global economy which is more than cost by all war and violence in the world.
According to the research study more than 130 countries documenting the causes of disease and premature deaths in recent decades, found that poor air quality was the most significant pollution-related killer.
In most cases, pollution doesn’t cause fatalities through infections. Its toxic and extremely fine particles usually trigger respiratory or cardiovascular conditions that cannot be effectively treated after inhaling enough of them.
Most of those deaths occur in poor and developing countries, from such pollution sources as dirty air in India and China, tainted water in sub-Saharan Africa, and toxic mining and smelter operations in South America. Other severely affected countries include Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Kenya.
Water pollution, which includes everything from unsafe sanitation to contaminated drinking water, accounted for an additional 1.8 million annual deaths from gastrointestinal diseases and other infections, researchers found.
The reports also said about $4.6 trillion in annual losses can be attributed to the early deaths and illnesses.
The study stating pollution accounts for about 16 percent of deaths worldwide builds on previous studies, including a 2016 report from the World Health Organization.
About 90 percent of the world’s urban population lives in cities in which air quality does not meet World Health Organization standards.
The worst-affected places are almost always nations undergoing rapid economic development, usually at the expense of the health and wellbeing of their poorer citizens.
This sobering study is a perfect reminder of why environmental regulations and protections exist. A world without them is less equal, and far more deadly.