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Scientists alert to 21st century air pollution “pandemic”

While the threat of the coronavirus is shaking the world, researchers draw our attention to another scourge. A scourge that they consider more impacting than wars, malaria, AIDS or smoking. This scourge is air pollution.

Globally, smoking is responsible for the loss oflife expectancy 2.2 years on average. It causes 7.2 million deaths every year. The AIDS shortens thelife expectancy 0.7 years on average. It causes 1 million victims a year. For the malaria, we are talking about a reduced life expectancy of 0.6 years and 600,000 deaths per year. Wars cause a decrease in life expectancy of 0.3 years and 530,000 annual deaths.

But, according to a study by German researchers, the scourge that surpasses all these is the air pollution. It shortens life expectancy around the world by 3 years on average. In 2015, it caused 8.8 million premature deaths!

These figures show that matter loss of life expectancy, pollution of theair exceeds malaria by a factor of 19 and violence by a factor of 16. Thealcohol by a factor of 45 and the abuse of drugs, by a factor of 60. "Since the impact of air pollution on public health as a whole is much greater than expected and is a global phenomenon, we believe that our results show that there is a"pandemic of air pollution "», says Thomas Münzel, researcher, in a statement from the European Cardiology Association.

A “pandemic” that strikes differently according to regions and ages

Going into detail, the researchers found that the cardiovascular illnesses are responsible for the largest proportion of premature deaths due to air pollution. They account for 43% of the loss of life expectancy in the world. They also noted that air pollution had a greater effect on shortening the lives of the elderly. Globally, about 75% of deaths from air pollution occur in people over the age of 60.

The researchers also wanted to distinguish the effects of pollution of human origin that from natural sources (dusts from desert, volcanism, forest fires, etc.). They show that two thirds of premature deaths are attributable to human pollution. In particular to that due to the use of fuels fossils. So they think that by specifically removing these broadcasts, the average life expectancy in the world would increase by just over a year.

But the impact could be even greater depending on the region. In East Asia, three to four years of life could be gained. Overall, "Five and a half million deaths are preventable each year", assures Thomas Münzel, who calls on decision-makers and the medical community to take the threat seriously.

Air pollution kills twice as much as previously thought

Pollution is responsible for nearly 800,000 deaths a year in Europe and 8.8 million worldwide, according to a new study. In France, one death in 1,000 is therefore attributable to poor air quality.

ABSMARTHEALTH article with AFP-Relaxnews published on 17/03/2019

Every year, almost 800,000 people in Europe die prematurely due to air pollution. Between 40 and 80% of these premature deaths are due to cardiovascular illnesses, say German researchers, who publish a new study in the journal European Heart Journal.

Pollution Kills More Than Tobacco

" This means that air pollution kills more people each year than tobacco, responsible for 7.2 million deaths in 2015 according to the World Health Organization (WHO), says one of the authors, Professor Thomas Münzel of the University of Mainz (Germany). Now, if we can avoid smoking, we cannot avoid being subject to polluted air ", He adds. Researchers estimate that 790,000 people died from air pollution in 2015 across Europe, including 659,000 in the 28 states of the European Union. An estimate significantly higher than that of the European Environment Agency (EEA). In its annual report published in October, it judged that air pollution with very fine particles (PM2.5), with dioxide ofnitrogen (NO2, issued by diesel engines) and at ozone (O3) was responsible in 2015 for 518,000 premature deaths in 41 European countries, and 480,000 in the EU.

This new study is mainly devoted to Europe, but its authors have also applied their calculation method to the whole world. They arrive at the astronomical figure of 8.8 million deaths caused by air pollution in 2015 throughout the planet, including 2.8 million for China. Previous work rather estimated the world total at 4.5 million. To revise these figures, the German researchers used a new statistical tool, based on a model simulating how the gas atmospheres interact with chemical compounds from human activity (production ofenergy, industry, transport, Agriculture…). They then combined this data with mortality rates and exposure. " We used new risk analyzes, based on much wider epidemiological data than before, from 16 countries ", Told AFP one of the scientists, Jos Lelieveld.

Pollution: 105 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants in France

On average, the global excess mortality attributed to air pollution by this study is 120 deaths per year per 100,000 inhabitants. This rate is higher in Europe (133), although the controls are stricter there than in other regions. " This is due to the combination of poor air quality and high population density, which results in one of the highest exposures in the world. ", According to Professor Lelieveld.

Eastern Europe is particularly affected, with 36,000 deaths per year for Romania or 76,000 for Ukraine, which is more than 200 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. For France, the rate is 105 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 98 in the United Kingdom or 154 in Germany.

The study authors consider it "urgent" to lower the exposure thresholds to fine particles. The average annual limit for PM2.5 set by the European Union is 25 micrograms per cubic meter, or 2.5 times more than the WHO recommendations. " Since most fine particles and other air pollutants in Europe come from the combustion of the fossil fuels, there is an urgent need to switch to other energy sources "Pleads Professor Lelieveld.

Underestimated cardiovascular risk

These jobs " seem to show that the cardiovascular risk related to air pollution has been underestimated, and this finding seems relevant to me "Comments a scientist who did not take part in the study, doctor Holly Shiels, of the university of Manchester. " Previously, we focused on the risks of Cancer related to air pollution or the immediate effects onrespiratory. Now we understand better the link with heart problems, the effects on brain or reproduction issues "Says Hans Bruyninckx, the head of the European Environment Agency (EEA).

Pollution responsible for one in six deaths worldwide

AFP-Paris article published on 23/10/2017

Three times more than AIDS, fifteen times more than wars: pollution is a serial killer, concludes the global study published in the medical journal The Lancet. And poor people are more affected. Overwhelming numbers that should spur action.

One in six deaths worldwide in 2015 was linked to pollution, mainly contamination not only air, but also water and workplaces, says report published in the journal Friday. The Lancet. "It is estimated that diseases caused by pollution were responsible for nine million premature deaths in 2015, or 16% of all deaths worldwide", assesses this report, the result of two years of work by a commission associating the British medical journal, several international organizations, NGOs and around forty researchers specializing in health and environmental issues.

This balance sheet represents "Three times more deaths than AIDS, the tuberculosis and malaria combined, and fifteen times more than those caused by wars and all other forms of violence ”, emphasize its authors. The air pollution (exterior and interior) alone is responsible for 6.5 million deaths each year, mainly through noncommunicable diseases such as heart disease, Stroke, the lung cancer and the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Thepolluted water linked to 1.8 million deaths, for example via a bad sanitation or contamination of sources, causes of gastrointestinal diseases and parasitic infections. Pollution in the workplace would cause about 800,000, via exposure to toxic or carcinogenic substances.

Pollution Kills the Poor More

This assessment is "Probably underestimated", adds The Lancet, considering "Many chemical pollutants emerging still to be identified ". The phenomenon affects first "The poor and vulnerable", notes the report. 92% of these deaths indeed occur in low- and middle-income countries and, in each country, they concern more minorities and marginalized populations. In countries undergoing rapid industrialization, such as China, India, Kenya, Madagascar or Pakistan, up to one in four deaths could be linked to pollution.

The report also stresses the economic weight of these shortened lives for the countries concerned: over 4.600 billion dollars each year (3.900 billion euros), the equivalent of 6.2% of the world's economic wealth. However, this burden remains "Neglected by both governments and development organizations", laments The Lancet in an editorial accompanying the report. The medical journal calls for "Tackle the situation urgently" and beat in breach "The myth that pollution is an inevitable consequence of economic development".

48,000 deaths a year in France due to air pollution

AFP article published on June 22, 2016

The presence of fine particles contributes to cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological diseases and cancers. Consequence: air pollution would be the third preventable cause of death in France, after tobacco and alcohol.

Deaths caused by this pollution linked to human activities (transport, industry, heating with energy fossils as the fuel, agriculture, etc.) correspond to 9% of mortality in mainland France (excluding Corsica and overseas, nearly 62 million inhabitants), according to a study by Public Health France.

So, "The burden (the health burden) of air pollution is third, behind that of tobacco (78,000 dead per year) and alcohol (49,000 dead)", underlines professor François Bourdillon, director general of this public body, according to which it is about a " species invisible mortality ".

This pollution represented "A loss of life expectancy for a person aged 30 who can exceed two years", emphasizes the study. The loss of life expectancy is, on average, higher in large cities (15 months and more), but it does not spare rural areas (nine months).

The concentration map of fine particles shows that they are higher in large urban areas such as the Paris region, north-eastern France and the Lyon-Marseille axis.

Pollution deaths are partly preventable

More than 34,000 of these 48,000 deaths would be preventable each year if all of the municipalities in mainland France managed to reach the fine particle levels of the 5% of the least polluted equivalent municipalities (population size), according to one of the scenarios selected by the study authors.

The mortality figures mentioned in this new study are not increasing compared to previous results, notes however Sylvia Médina, coordinator of the Air Health program. The French study notably confirms the European Cafe study (Clean air for Europe) in 2000, which estimated the number of deaths linked to pollution in France.

In addition, pollution peaks weigh less on health than chronic exposure. The health impact results, in the long term, especially from the day-to-day exposure to pollution levels below the alert thresholds triggered from a concentration of 80 micrograms of PM10 (particles of diameter less than 10 microns) per cubic meter of air.

Exposure to air pollution, in particular to fine particles, contributes to the development of cardiovascular illnesses (heart attack, etc.), respiratory or neurological, and cancer. It also promotes "Reproductive and child development disorders", adds Sylvia Médina.

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