An air study has found that air pollution was caused by burning fossil fuels such as coal and oil in 2018, a shocking death in five of those who died that year.
Countries with the most advanced consumption of fossil fuels to power plants, homes and vehicles suffer the highest death tolls, with the study finding that more than one in 10 deaths in the U.S. and Europe were caused with the resulting pollution, along with nearly a third of deaths in East Asia, which includes China. Mortality rates in South America and Africa were significantly lower.
pollution deaths
The death toll is significantly higher than previous estimates and surprised even the researchers of the study. “We were very skeptical at first when we got the results because they are amazing, but we are finding out more and more about the effects of this pollution,” said Eloise Marais, a geographer at University College London and co-author of a study. “It’s dangerous. The more we look for impact, the more we will find. ”
The 8.7m deaths in 2018 represent a “major contribution to the global burden of mortality and disease”, says the study, which is the result of a collaboration between scientists at Harvard University, the University of Birmingham, the University of Leicester and College University of London. The death toll is higher than the total number of people who die worldwide each year from tobacco smoking as well as those who die from malaria.
Scientists have established links between diffuse air pollution from burning fossil fuels and cases of heart disease, respiratory diseases and even vision loss. Without fossil fuel emissions, the average life expectancy of the world’s population would rise by more than a year, and global economic and health costs would fall by about $ 2.9tn.
The new estimate of deaths, published in the journal Environmental Research, is higher than other previous attempts to quantify the lethal cost of fossil fuels. A major report by the Lancet in 2019 found, for example, 4.2m annual deaths from air pollution from dust and wild smoke, as well as fossil fuel burning.
child pollution deaths
This new research uses a more detailed analysis of the impact of airborne particles emitted by power tools, cars, trucks and other sources. This granular case is called PM2.5 because the grains are less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter – or about 30 times smaller than the average human hair diameter. These small specks of pollution, once ingested, lodge in the lungs and can cause a number of health problems.
“We do not understand that air pollution is an invisible killer,” said Neelu Tummala, an ear, nose and throat surgeon at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. “The air we breathe affects everyone’s health but especially children, older people, those on low incomes and people of color. People in urban areas tend to have the worst effects. “
Instead of just relying on average estimates from satellite and surface observations that account for PM2.5 from a range of sources, the researchers used a global 3D model of atmospheric chemistry led by Nasa that has a more precise resolution. and which can differentiate between sources of pollution. “Instead of relying on averages spread across large regions, we wanted to map out where the pollution is and where people live, so that we know exactly what people are doing. breathe, ”said Karn Vohra, a graduate student at Birmingham University and co-author study.
The researchers then developed a new risk assessment based on a proportion of a new study that has obtained a much higher mortality rate from fossil fuel emissions than previously thought, even at relatively low densities. Data were taken from 2012 and then also 2018 to report rapid developments in air quality in China. Deaths were counted for people aged 15 and over.
The results show a globally diverse picture. “China’s air quality is improving but the fine grain collections are still very high, the US is getting better, although there are hot spots in the northeast, Europe is a mixed bag and India is definitely very hot, ”said Marais.
The death toll described in the study may even be an estimate of the true picture, according to George Thurston, an air pollution and health expert at NYU medical school who was not involved in the research. “Overall, however, this new work makes it clearer than ever that when we talk about the human costs of air pollution or climate change, the main causes are the same. thing – burning fossil fuels, ”he said.
Philip J Landrigan, program director for global public health and general wellbeing, said: “Recent research has examined the use of more recent exposure response functions, and there are a number of recent papers that will The use of these new activities has led to higher estimates of pollution-related mortality associated with the Global Burden of Disease studies. “He said:” I think it’s important that different risk assessment models are developed, as their development will revise the assumptions that underpin existing models and improve orra. “
Ed Avol, head of the environmental health department at the University of Southern California (USC), said: “The authors have implemented improved approaches to better measure exposures and better record health outcomes to the difficult (but not surprising) conclusion is reached that air pollution associated with fossil fuels is doing more harm to human health than previously thought. The remote satellite imaging experts and health epidemiologists on the research team are highly capable researchers and among the most talented scholars in this dynamic field. “
“Fossil fuels have a significant impact on health, weather and the environment and we need to respond more quickly,” said Marais. “Some governments have carbon neutral targets but we may have to move them forward with the significant damage to public health. We need a lot more urgency. “