Study: Number of Premature Deaths Worldwide Linked to Air Pollution Expected To Rise to 6.6M by 2050
Three million premature deaths across the globe each year can be attributed to outdoor air pollution -- and that number could increase to 6.6 million by 2050, according to a recent study published in Nature. For the study, researchers used an atmospheric chemistry model in conjunction with global health and population data. They investigated connections between premature mortality and outdoor air pollution from seven sources: agriculture, biomass burning, industry, land traffic, natural sources, power generation, and residential and commercial energy use.
- "Scientists Say Air Pollution Causes More Than 3 Million Deaths Each Year Around the World" (Harvey, Washington Post, 9/16).
- "Study: More Than 6 Million Could Die Early From Air Pollution Every Year" (Ansari, CNN, 9/16).