The answer is air pollution. And apart from that, it is accounted to contributing to the development or progression of serious and chronic diseases, with global death toll as of 2015 as follows:
- 21% of all cardiovascular deaths worldwide;
- 25% of ischaemic heart disease deaths;25% of ischaemic heart disease deaths;
- 24% of stroke deaths, and
- 27% of lung cancer deaths
Additionally, ambient air pollution appears to be an important although not yet quantified risk factor for:
- neurodevelopmental disorders in children and
- neurodegenerative diseases in adults.
The Economic Burden of Air Pollution
Ambient air pollution is responsible for great economic losses, including:
- medical expenditures – an estimated US$21 billion globally in 2015;
- lost economic productivity resulting from pollution-related disease and premature death;
- the cost of environmental degradation.
So where does all of that pollution come from?
There are a couple of reasons.
- First and foremost, that is the rapid industrialization and the expansion of megacities.
Currently an estimated 66% of the population worldwide lives in urban areas, and this number is expected to continue to grow. This leads to emerging issues with infrastructure, healthcare, urban planning and environmental protection and will require more measures from policy makers in the future. For the industry it will mean to seek new ways to power production and to stop relying on fossil fuels. - Increased use of motor vehicles
As urban populations grow, the number of cars increases, presenting new challenges for transportation planning and air quality. - Intensive agriculture and the growing need for food
In order to ensure enough food and goods for the growing population, agriculture increasingly relies on pesticides and toxic chemicals. These substances react with the air, water, and soil, leading to long-lasting pollution with negative consequences for both humans and natural ecosystems.
Air pollution is a global issue that requires urgent measures at various levels – from environmental protection policies to personal initiatives aimed at reducing the carbon footprint.
Sources:
Landrigan, Philip. (2016). Air pollution and health. The Lancet Public Health. 2. 10.1016/S2468-2667(16)30023-8.
Carlsten, Christopher,(2020).Personal strategies to minimise effects of air pollution on respiratory health: Advice for providers, patients and the public. European Respiratory Journal. https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02056-2019]
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