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According to a new study, exposure to air pollution is now a cause of death more important in the world than smoking.
The study, published by the European Heart Journal, estimates at 8.79 million the number of deaths due to ambient air pollution by ambient air pollution in 2015. A new global model of exposure mortality used in the study raised estimates by 4.55 million. (The WHO estimates that 4.2 million premature deaths due to ambient air pollution in 2016.)
As the authors of the study note, "to put this in perspective, the WHO estimates that the excess mortality rate due to smoking is 7.2 million per year; therefore, air pollution is now considered to be the most important risk factor. The study examined the exposure to tiny particles of pollution (with a diameter less than PM2.5) and their effects on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
In Europe, where the study was based, researchers estimate that 790,000 annual deaths are caused by air pollution. Between 40 and 80% of these deaths were "due to cardiovascular events".
Flee fossil fuels
The study notes that "the predominant sources of fine particles are the combustion of fossil fuels and biomass, industry, agriculture and windblown dust." The conclusion of the researchers? Stay away from fossil fuels. The abstract claims that the replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energies could "significantly reduce the life expectancy due to air pollution".
Assuming fossil fuel emissions are eliminated as needed to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement, the researchers found that 434,000 premature deaths a year could be avoided by eliminating fossil fuel-related emissions. Considering emissions control as "an effective intervention," concludes the study,
"It follows that switching from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy is a very effective intervention for health promotion. The attributable mortality rate in Europe would decrease by about 55%. The gradual elimination of carbon dioxide emissions is a significant health benefit. "
American Racial Gap
A separate study of the PNAS aims to quantify the "racial gap" associated with US exposure to air pollution. The study developed a measure of "pollution inequality" to account for the consumption of goods and services in the United States with respect to the exposure to pollution of an ethnic or racial.
The study examined consumer spending by group in a number of categories. He then traced this information up to the air pollution emitted by the production of these goods and services. As noted in the introduction to the study,
"Some may find it intuitive that, on average, Black and Hispanic minorities bear a disproportionate burden of air pollution caused primarily by non-Hispanic whites, but this effect has not yet been directly established, or even quantized "
The study gives black Americans an inequality of pollution of 56% (excess exposure compared to the exposure caused by their consumption) and to Hispanic Americans, 63%. White Americans had a pollution inequality of -17%.
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