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The Biggest News and Health Story in the U.S. That Nobody Paid Attention To
Nearly 10,000 more people died prematurely in 2018 because of rising air pollution.
Air pollution kills. According to the World Health Organization, every year, 7 million people die early because of air pollution — from more strokes, heart attacks, and deadly lung and respiratory infections.
A month ago, as this Fox station reported, a new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research looked at the increase in air pollution in the United States. The focus was on particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers across (or, PM2.5).
These are super tiny particles. But we now know that the really small stuff is dangerous, in part because the particles get past the nose and throat and lodge in the lungs and circulatory system.
Here’s the PM2.5 trend line in the U.S. from the EPA and the Washington Post.
Looking at the raw data, from 2000 to 2016, the average concentration of PM2.5 dropped 43%.
Since 2016, this dangerous air pollution has gone up 5 to 6%.
