Pollution: Leading environmental risk factor for premature death globally

According to the Lancet Commission on pollution and health, pollution was the leading environmental risk factor for premature death globally in 2022. It caused almost nine million premature deaths worldwide.

WHO also says that air pollution is the cause behind seven million deaths all across the globe each year, which is more than the number of deaths caused due to COVID-19. Air pollution-related health costs are projected to be $ 8.1 trillion annually, or 6.1 per cent of the world’s GDP.

A recent study by the Jaslok-Fertile Tree International Centre with IIT Mumbai revealed secondary metabolites of phthalates were derived from plastic products in the ovarian follicles of infertile women. A global decrease in sperm count is also being caused due to air pollutants.

According to another study about 90 per cent of children worldwide spend their early years inhaling poisonous air, causing long term health issues as they grow older.

Also watch: Air pollution has worse effects on the bone density of postmenopausal women