7 Million Deaths Attributed to Air Pollution Worldwide in 2012

A World Health Organization (WHO) report released yesterday found that over seven million people died in 2012 as a result of air pollution. One-third of these people were from developing Asian countries.

Stroke and heart disease were the leading killers as a result of the air pollution: 80% of the 3.7 million deaths due to outdoor pollution (AAP) and 60% of the 4.3 million deaths due to indoor pollution (HAP). Most of the deaths occurred in middle-to-low income countries, with the vast majority including nations between and including China and India.

According to the report, outdoor pollution included traffic fumes and coal-burning (among others) and pollution emitted indoors was a result of wood/coal stoves. These pollutions caused the most deaths the World Health Organization said. The five main diseases and ailments that came as a result of household air pollution (HAP) were stroke (34%), ischemic heart disease (26%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (22%), acute lower respiratory infection (12%), and lung cancer (6%). Nearly two million men over the age of 25, 1.8 million women over the age of 25, and over 500,000 children under the age of five died as a result of HAP. The same diseases were also attributed to ambient air pollution (AAP)

A 2008 report from the World Health Organization revealed AAP deaths at 1.3 million and HAP deaths at 1.9 million. These numbers have drastically increased in only four years, and health officials think it may have something to do with more frequent vehicle use in south and east Asia. Air pollutants have previously been linked to heart diseases, respiratory diseases, and cancers.

But it's no surprise a majority of these deaths come from the Asian countries: China and India alone account for 1.345 billion and 1.2 billion out of the world population that is just above 7.152 billion. And just about a month ago, Beijing reported dangerously high levels of air pollution, and commuters were asked to take public transportation and children and the elderly were advised to stay indoors.

To read more about the World Health Organization air pollution report, visit this New York Times article.