Air Pollution in the World Today

Air pollution

From smog hanging over cities to smoke inside the home, air pollution poses a major threat to health and climate. The combined effects of ambient (outdoor) and household air pollution cause about 6.5 million premature deaths every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections. Low-and middle income countries suffer from the highest air pollution exposures, indoors and outside. In most low- and middle-income cities fine particulate concentrations exceed WHO guideline levels of 10 micrograms per cubic metre (10 ug/m3).

News release: 9 out of 10 people worldwide breathe polluted air

2 May 2018, Geneva – Air pollution levels remain at dangerously high levels in many parts of the world. 

New data reveals that 9 out of 10 people breathe air containing high levels of pollutants. 

like black carbon which penetrate deep into the lungs and cardiovascular system. 

WHO estimates that around 7 million people die every year from exposure to fine particles in polluted air 

that lead to diseases such as stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases 

and respiratory infections, including pneumonia.

• 9 out of 10 people worldwide breathe polluted air but more countries are taking action

Air pollution is an invisible killer that lurks all around us, preying on the young and old. Learn how it slips unnoticed past our body's defenses causing deaths from heart attack, strokes, lung disease and cancer.

24% of all stroke deaths are attributable to air pollution. Air pollution causes 1.4 million deaths from stroke every year.

25% of all heart disease deaths are attributable to air pollution. Air pollution causes 2.4 million deaths due to heart disease every year.

43% of all lung disease and lung cancer deaths are attributable to air pollution. Air pollution causes 1.8 million deaths due to lung disease and cancer every year.

Most air pollution-related deaths are from non-communicable diseases (NCDs). In terms of global disease burden, air pollution is the cause of over one-third of deaths from stroke, lung cancer, and chronic respiratory disease, and one-quarter of deaths from ischaemic heart disease.

From smog hanging over cities to smoke inside the home, air pollution poses a major threat to health and climate. The combined effects of ambient (outdoor) and household air pollution cause about 7 million premature deaths every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.

More than 80% of people living in urban areas that monitor air pollution are exposed to air quality levels that exceed WHO guideline limits, with low-and middle income countries suffering from the highest exposures, both indoors and outdoors. 4.2 million</span>deaths every year as a result of exposure to ambient (outdoor) air pollution. 3.8 million </span>deaths every year as a result of household exposure to smoke from dirty cookstoves and fuels.

http://www.who.int/airpollution/en/