While UN climate experts, the IPCC, published a 2,800-page report on Monday on solutions to stem global warming, WHO warns of the state of air pollution in the world . This is a major health issue given its responsibility in the prevalence of cardio-respiratory or cerebral diseases and cancers.
- Nearly all of the world’s population breathe polluted air, according to WHO
- Worldwide, indoor and outdoor air pollution is responsible for around 7 million deaths on average per year (WHO study, March 2014)
- Chronic exposure to air pollution has the greatest impact on health
Seven million preventable deaths
” After surviving a pandemic, it is unacceptable to continue to record seven million preventable deaths and countless avoidable healthy years lost due to air pollution. This is what emerges from the mountain of data, evidence and solutions available on air pollution. Yet too much investment is still going into a polluted environment rather than clean, healthy air “, said the Dr Maria Neira, Director of Environment, Climate Change and Health, WHO.
Indeed, the figures communicated yesterday by the World Health Organization in a press release, are overwhelming: nearly the entire world population (99%) breathes polluted air!
Dangerous levels of fine particles
6,000 cities in 117 countries now record ground-based monitoring data for particulate matter, PM10 and/or PM2.5, these two groups of pollutants that come mainly from human activities related to the burning of fossil fuels.
Residents of these cities still breathe in dangerous levels of fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide, and people living in low- and middle-income countries are most at risk.
Harms of air pollution
Data on the harmful effects of air pollution on the human organism highlight the negative impact of even low levels of many air pollutants on health.
Particulate matter, especially PM2.5, is able to penetrate deep into the lungs and into the bloodstream, causing cardiovascular, cerebrovascular (stroke) and respiratory disorders. New data indicates that the particles affect other organs and also cause other diseases.
Nitrogen dioxide is associated with respiratory diseases, particularly asthma, and leads to respiratory symptoms (such as coughing, wheezing, or difficulty breathing), hospitalizations, and emergency room visits.
These findings have prompted the WHO to highlight the importance of reducing the use of fossil fuels and adopting other concrete measures to bring down levels of air pollution. Recommendations that are in line with those of the IPCC for that the planet remains “liveable”.
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