Last updated April 6, 2017 at 11:29 am
An analysis of global premature deaths caused by fine particle air pollution in 2007 was published in the journal Nature today. It reports that more than one million of those deaths can be linked to international trade and the globalisation of air pollution.
The researchers looked at 3.45 million premature deaths that occurred around the world in 2007 that could be related to fine-particle pollution. They found that, of these deaths, around 12% (411,100) were caused by pollutants emitted in a region of the world other than where the deaths occurred and another 22% (762,400) were associated with the production of goods and services in one region but consumed in another.
Fine particles are thought to account for more than 90% of premature deaths from outdoor air pollution around the world and they have been associated with conditions such as heart disease and lung cancer.
It has long been suspected that air pollution from production areas is mainly a localised problem with the incidence of deaths more likely to occur close to where the fine particles are generated. However, this study shows that outdoor air pollution is more than just a local or regional problem and that the global impact of fine particle-related deaths is both apparent and poorly understood.
- Link to original research article: nature.com/articles/doi:10.1038/nature21712