2 Million Die Prematurely Each Year Because Of Air Pollution

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Main Category: Water - Air Quality / Agriculture
Also Included In: Public Health;  Cancer / Oncology;  Respiratory / Asthma
Article Date: 06 Oct 2006 - 10:00 PST

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The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that two million people die prematurely each year as a result of air pollution. The organization, in its new Air Quality Guidelines, says that deaths in polluted cities could be cut by 15% if we implemented stiffer pollution standards and reduced levels of PM10, a particular type of pollutant.

The main source of PM10 is the burning of fossil fuels.

The Air Quality Guidelines also call for significantly lower accepted limits on ozone and sulphur dioxide. If the guidelines were followed, this could mean some cites cutting down their pollution levels threefold.

More than half of all pollution-related premature deaths in the world take place in developing countries. The guidelines calls for a limit of 20 micrograms per cubic metre of PM10. Many cities around the world have levels well in excess of 70 micrograms per cubic metre.

Dr Maria Neira, WHO Director of Public Health and the Environment, said that premature deaths could be cut by about 15% just by lowering PM10 levels from 70 to 20 micrograms per cubic metre. PM10 can cause serious respiratory infections, lung cancer, other cancers and heart disease.

Dr. Neira added that apart from the health benefits, cutting down on the acceptable levels of air pollution could contribute towards stemming climate change.

The Air Quality Guidelines have been devised after consulting with 80 leading scientists from around the world. The guidelines are based on a review of thousands of recent studies from various regions of the globe.

Dr Roberto Bertollini, Director of the Special Programme for Health and Environment, Regional Office for Europe, WHO, said "They (the guidelines) present the most widely agreed and up-to-date assessment of health effects of air pollution, recommending targets for air quality at which the health risks are significantly reduced. We look forward to working with all countries to ensure these Guidelines become part of national law."

WHO reported that several countries have no air pollutions regulations at all. Those that do vary substantially, and are not strict enough to protect human health.

Click here to download the Executive Summary of the Revised Air Quality Guidelines (PDF)

The full edition of the guidelines will be published later on this year.

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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