Air pollution is harmful, says WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that the world’s biggest environmental health risk is air pollution, causing at least one in eight global deaths. It was for the first time that air pollution and its health impacts were discussed at WHO’s World Health Assembly, which concluded in Geneva last week.
WHO’s assessment shows there is a massive surge in disease burden and deaths due to air pollution exposure. The latest data shows that deaths due to air pollution (both indoor and outdoor pollution), have increased four-fold globally over the past decade.
While the total number of deaths due to air pollution is estimated to be around 8 million every year, data shows that China and India are by far the worst affected countries.
Of the 8 million deaths globally, 3.7 million are from outdoor or ambient air pollution, the data shows. Around 88% of premature deaths due to air pollution exposure occurred in low and middle-income countries.
Studies by WHO and other international agencies show that apart from respiratory diseases, exposure to air pollution leads to higher risk of coronary artery disease and stroke.
Air pollution is also linked with cancer in recent studies.
There is evidence that outdoor air pollution can cause lung cancer. It also increases the risk of bladder cancer, according to International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
‘Air pollution is already known to increase risks for a wide range of diseases, such as respiratory and heart diseases. Studies indicate that in recent years, exposure levels have increased significantly in some parts of the world, partic ularly in rapidly industrializing countries with large populations,’ IARC said.
The latest resolution, passed during the 68th World Health Assembly, called for all countries to develop air quality monitoring systems and health registries to improve surveillance for all illnesses related to air pollution.
WHO also asked its member countries to promote clean cooking, heating and lighting technologies and fuels; and strengthen international transfer of expertise, technologies and scientific data in the field of air pollution.
In urban areas, experts say that policies and investments supporting cleaner transport, energy-efficient housing, power generation, industry and better municipal waste management would reduce key sources of urban outdoor air pollution.
While in the rural areas, reducing outdoor emissions from household coal and biomass energy systems, agricultural waste incineration, forest fires and certain agro-forestry activities can lead to a potential reduction in air pollution.
