Report: Air Pollution Cutting Short Lives of Billions

Air pollution is cutting years off the lives of billions, a new study found. Nearly three years of life an average human loses due to poor air quality, according to the report. It said coal burnings were a leading factor in most of these deaths, while industrial activities and deforestation also contributed. The study found that among those living in high-income countries, conditions for poor people were worst in Asia and the Middle East.

“Air pollution is the greatest external threat to human health on the planet, and that is not widely recognised, or not recognised with the force and vigour that one might expect,” declared professorr Michael Greenstone at the University of Chicago.

Studies show that air pollution can reduce life expectancy by anywhere from two to six years. According to a new study, the harmful health effects of air pollution are exacerbated by factors such as poverty and poor housing conditions. The study suggests that India is the country that suffers the most from dirty air, with an average citizen expected to die six years earlier than they would otherwise. In China, the number is reduced to 2.6 years. The statistics are staggering: almost 17 billion years can be cut short from humans lives worldwide, with an average of 2.2 lost years per human.

Fossil fuels pose an even more significant threat to the climate than previously thought. The burning of fossil fuels like oil, coal, and natural gas releases large amounts of carbon dioxide, a heat-trapping gas. Burning fossil fuels also destabilize the environment because it adds to the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The more CO2 in the atmosphere, the warmer it gets—and the warmer it gets, the more likely it is that some type of disaster will occur. Drastic measures must be taken now, according to scientists.