Every year, more than 3.3 million people worldwide die prematurely as a result of air pollution.
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Scientists believe that 1 million people can be saved from early death every year if air pollution is reduced, while 3.54 million people can be saved if they are protected against indoor exposure to pollutants.
The authors, led by Professor Jos Lelieveld, from the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz, German, concluded: “Our results suggest that if the projected increase in mortality attributable to air pollution is to be avoided, intensive air quality control measures will be needed, particularly in South and East Asia”.
With nearly 1.4 million deaths a year, China has the most air pollution fatalities, followed by India with 645,000 and Pakistan with 110,000.
Air pollution is affecting mainly Asia with China and India having the most number of the premature deaths because of the ozone and toxic particles produced by air pollution which are leading to heart problem, respiratory disease and lung cancer.
Scientists in Germany, Cyprus, Saudi Arabia and Harvard University found that the majority of these deaths are in Asia, where emissions from residential energy use such as heating and cooking, have the largest impact of premature deaths globally.
However, the researchers say that the main sources of air pollution in these countries are heating and cooking as most homes and institutions in these parts of the world still rely heavily on wood, cow dung, or other biomass. The results of the model are based on available data from countries that monitor air quality and keep thorough medical databases on patients.
In the European Union, new legislation on sampling and analysis of outdoor air pollution data entered into force today, aiming to reduce harmful effects of air pollution on human health and the environment. So, the number of premature deaths caused by air pollution may be underestimated.
The authors said the study was the largest of its kind, involving a survey of a half million Americans. Ammonia from fertilizer and livestock triggers the formation of sulfate particles and ammonium nitrate, both well known air pollution contributors. Michael Jerrett, researcher from the University of California, the Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, Los Angeles, offered a statement of his own informing that the conclusions of this study are “surprising and potentially important for protecting public health globally”. “This can be a win-win situation”.
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A separate study in Nature Geoscience also on Wednesday offer one other solution.
