6 Startling Facts About Air Pollution That Call for Immediate Action for World Environment Day 2023

The annual celebration of World Environment Day on June 5 strives to increase public awareness of environmental challenges and spur action. It offers a universal forum for people, groups, and governments to address urgent issues. One of these problems that is of particular importance is air pollution. When we talk about dangerous compounds in the air, we usually mean that they are brought on by human activity, such as industrial emissions, automobile exhaust, and burning fossil fuels.

The health and wellbeing of millions of people throughout the globe are secretly in danger. Although we often picture smoggy cities and industrial regions when we think of air pollution, its effects are felt well beyond these obvious locations. On this World Environment Day, let’s explore some startling statistics concerning air pollution

Every day, 91% of people in the globe breathe contaminated air.
Over 90% of people globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), live in regions with air pollution. The burning of fossil fuels for electricity production and emissions from fossil fuel-powered vehicles are the major causes of worldwide air pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency estimated that by 2020, the United States would have produced 68 million tons of air pollution on its own.
6.7 million people die annually from air pollution. 3.2 million people every year pass away from household air pollution.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution causes 7 million premature deaths annually, making it a silent killer. The danger of respiratory illnesses, heart disorders, strokes, and even cancer rises when you breathe contaminated air. All ages are affected, although children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing medical disorders are more at risk.
Smoking, HIV, and war do not pose a greater threat to life expectancy than air pollution does.
According to a study by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, poor air quality causes an average 5.9-year loss in longevity in India. Additionally, the top five nations in Asia, Central America, and West Africa with the worst air pollution are seeing a worrying increase in this risk. In these areas, the average life expectancy has decreased by two to five years, outpacing health dangers presented by well-known killers like HIV/AIDS and malaria.
Affected by household air pollution and without access to clean cooking are more than 3 billion people.
Indoor places are also impacted by air pollution, which is not only an issue for outdoor settings. In fact, because of the concentration of contaminants in small spaces, indoor air pollution may even be more dangerous. Stoves, heaters, tobacco smoke, and construction materials are a few typical sources. According to WHO statistics, 3.8 million people die prematurely each year as a result of indoor air pollution.
Low-income countries account for 91% of premature deaths
With much greater mortality rates compared to Europe and North America, deadly air pollution is a serious problem in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Additionally, more than 3 billion people worldwide still use polluting cooking techniques, putting them at risk for diseases linked to indoor air pollution.
India Has Ten of the World’s Top 15 Most Polluted Cities.
India is the country with the most polluted cities, despite China’s Hotan having the worst air quality. In India, 10 of the top 15 most polluted cities exceed WHO PM2.5 standards by 500 percent. The burning of garbage and the usage of fossil fuels in lower-income families are further causes. The National Clean Air Programme of India seeks to cut pollution by 30% by 2024 and reach 50% renewable energy by 2030, both of which would help decrease emissions.