Findings show pollution is responsible for more deaths than drugs, war, car accidents, terrorism, alcohol and Malaria

New Study Reports 1 in 6 People die from pollution

Alexa Martins
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Pollution responsible for 1 in 6 deaths globally

An increasing trend in temperature variability was identified at the global level from 2000 to 2019. Globally, 1?753?392 deaths (95% CI 1?159?901–2?357?718) were associated with temperature variability per year, accounting for 3·4% (2·2–4·6) of all deaths. Most of Asia, Australia, and New Zealand were observed to have a higher percentage excess in mortality than the global mean. Globally, the percentage excess in mortality increased by about 4·6% (3·7–5·3) per decade. The largest increase occurred in Australia and New Zealand (7·3%, 95% CI 4·3–10·4), followed by Europe (4·4%, 2·2–5·6) and Africa (3·3, 1·9–4·6).”
The Lancet Planetary Health Journal

The Lancet Planetary Health Journal, an esteemed scientific publication, just released its report that pollution is the Earth's most significant environmental health threat. Pollution, as of 2019,  is responsible for the deaths of one in six people.

Scientists used data from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries and Risk Factors, published in 2019. Globally, pollution was proven to be the cause of death for 1.4 million. Water pollution accounts for the deaths of 1.4 people, and lead poisoning was responsible for 1 million fatalities. 

The scientists report that as of today, the causes of pollution are no longer indoor issues, as prior reports had shown. Now, the pollution killing 1 in 6 people globally stems from outdoor air pollution and toxic chemicals, as well as chemical and industrial pollution, as seen in China with over 2 million deaths due to the conditions. 

Called "Modern Pollution" by many experts, the new data shows a whopping 66 percent surge since 2000.

In part, the study states, "Consistent with previous studies, we observed an increased mortality risk associated with temperature variability, accounting for a substantial mortality burden. The percentage change in mortality associated with an IQR increase in temperature variability ranged from 0 to 2% for most grid cells, which is similar to previous results based on 12 countries.  The physiological mechanisms underlying this association might relate to thermal adjustment to temperatures through physiological and behavioral responses that are impeded by unstable weather over a short period of time.
 
 
"During these processes, multiple organs can be involved (eg, respiratory, circulatory, and immune systems) by affecting heart rate, blood viscosity, fibrinogen, platelet count, arterial blood pressure, and oxygen uptake.
 Although the biological mechanisms have not been fully elucidated, they imply a difficult process of thermal adjustment to temperature variability."
 
To read the scientific study, CLICK HERE.