Air pollution causes at least 1 in 10 deaths worldwide, amounting to around 7 million premature deaths per year
Air pollution is a major global health crisis, causing at least 1 in 10 deaths worldwide and around 7 million premature deaths per year. The two most widely cited estimates attribute approximately 7 million deaths annually to both indoor and outdoor air pollution from anthropogenic and natural sources.
Recent studies suggest the health impacts of air pollution exposure are larger than previously thought. Exposure to air pollutants increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, and cancers. These deaths can be considered “avoidable” if air pollution was reduced to safer levels.
The Global Burden of Disease study estimates 6.7 million premature deaths per year due to air pollution.
The World Health Organization (WHO) provides a similar estimate of 7 million deaths, with 4.2 million from outdoor air pollution and 3.8 million from indoor air pollution