Climate Change Linked to Soaring Health Risks
Nearly 99% of the global population breathes air that exceeds WHO guidelines, increasing risks of serious health issues. Learn about the impact of air pollution and climate change on health.
The shocking reality of air pollution is that almost 99% of the global population breathes air that exceeds the World Health Organization's safety guidelines. This presents a serious health risk, raising the chances of respiratory diseases, strokes, heart disease, lung cancer, diabetes, and more, posing a danger on par with tobacco use.
The statistics are alarming: around seven million premature deaths every year are attributed to air pollution. Recently, Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city, recorded air pollution levels 40 times above the WHO’s acceptable limits.
However, there is a silver lining. Efforts to reduce coal burning have led to a 7% decrease in fossil fuel-related air pollution deaths from 2016 to 2021, as reported by the Lancet Countdown.
Yet, climate change adds another layer of complexity. Rising temperatures are expanding the habitats of mosquitoes, birds, and mammals, which increases the likelihood of spreading infectious diseases like dengue, chikungunya, Zika, West Nile virus, and malaria.
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