12 Air Pollution Facts That Will Shock You

Air pollution continues to be a major human health concern. According to recent air pollution facts, air pollution kills more than 2 million people every year.

If you ever needed a better reason to start paying attention to air pollution, that’s one of them. Need more reasons to watch your carbon footprint? Here are some more facts about air pollution that you should be aware of.

Air Pollution Facts That Will Shock You

1. Outdoor air pollution ranks in the top ten killers on earth

According to air pollution facts by WHO, in 2012, about 6.5 million people died worldwide from air pollution-related diseases. That was more than the number of people killed by HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and road injuries combined.

2. Air pollution is a big killer in Asia

65% of the deaths in Asia are due to air pollution. More than 1 million air pollution-related deaths occurred in China in 2012. In India, air pollution is estimated to cause 527,700 deaths every year. This is in comparison to 50,000 people who die in America every year due to air pollution.

3. Almost all deaths linked to air pollution occur in low- and middle-income countries

According to air pollution facts and statistics by WHO, 94% of all deaths linked to air pollution occur in parts of Africa, Eastern Europe, India, China and the Middle East. But the most affected are countries in Eastern Europe. Ukraine led with 120 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants in 2012.

4. Air pollution cost the global economy about $225 billion

A study by the World Bank and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) found that air pollution in 2013 cost the global economy about $225 billion in lost labour income.

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5. Electric vehicles produce less air pollutants

According to air pollution facts documented in the Lancet journal, the more people wait in traffic the higher their chances of dying from a heart attack. 2 million cars in Manila cause 80% of air pollution. Switching to electric cars significantly reduces air pollution. Electric cars stir up dirt but without producing gases.

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6. Switch to better alternatives

Reduce your carbon footprint by leaving your car home and take the bus. A single bus means 40 fewer cars on the road. But, the ultimate best ways to reduce air pollution are by walking and riding a bicycle.

7. Heavy crude oil is worse than light crude oil

Production of heavy crude oil causes 40% more air pollution than the production of light crude oil.

8. Dolphins suffering too

Fun facts about air pollution show that smog from air pollution causes black lung diseases in dolphins.

9. Air pollution responsible for premature deaths

Air pollution caused by diesel truck results in an average f 5,000 premature deaths in Southern California every year.

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10. Children are the worst affected

Toxic air pollution affects children more because of their smaller physical size and lung capacity.

11. More than nine out of 10 of the world’s population breathes polluted air

Interesting facts about air pollution reported by WHO show that 92% of the world’s population lives in places where air pollution exceeds safe limits.

12. Carbon dioxide is the most common of the greenhouse gases

CO2 traps heat in the atmosphere causing climate change. The amount of carbon dioxide released by humans into the atmosphere over the past 150 years is higher than they have been for hundreds of thousands of years.

While the air pollution debate requires a global stage, individually, we can do little acts such as riding a bicycle, using public transport, burning less coal on the barbeque and so on. These little acts can go a long way in saving thousands of people who die due to cancer, heart attack or other airborne diseases.

These air pollution facts are definitely striking. So start with one little action today and make the world a pollution-free, healthier safer world to live in.

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