A new report from World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that in 2012, 7 million people died prematurely from air pollution exposure, making air pollution the world's largest single environmental health risk. The report also shows a stronger link between indoor and outdoor air pollution exposure and cardiovascular diseases. "The risks from air pollution are now far greater than previously thought or understood, particularly for heart disease and strokes, says Director of WHO's Department of Public Health's Maria Neira. "Few risks have a greater impact on global health today than air pollution; the evidence signals the need for concerted action to clean up the air we all breathe."
The new estimates are reportedly based on the most recent WHO mortality data from 2012 and evidence of health risks from air pollution exposures. To learn more about the report, read WHO's press release on the findings.
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