New Report Predicts Millions of Premature Deaths From Air Pollution

We are all aware that air pollution is a huge problem, both from a medical and an environmental perspective. What many people do not realize, however, is just how devastating air pollution can be to human health. At present, it is estimated that as many as 3 million people die premature deaths each year in connection with air pollution. As if this figure is not startling enough, a new report released by the International Energy Agency concerning projections of air pollution trends into 2040 suggests that by that year the number of premature deaths will have risen to 4.5 million annually.

 

  How Does Air Pollution Cause Premature Deaths?

 

The 3 million annual premature deaths from air pollution currently estimated occur for a wide range of reasons. There are, however, some common causes of death to which air pollution is a contributing factor. Among these are heart disease and diabetes, two conditions that people rarely think to associate with air pollution. Of course, there are also more obvious health risk associated with air pollution, such as impaired lung function and certain forms of cancer (provided that the type of pollution present in the immediate environment is of a carcinogenic variety).

 

  Why Are Deaths Expected to Rise?

 

Although steps are being taken in many places to limit exposure to air pollution, deaths are still expected to increase by 50 percent over the next 24 years. The reason for this is that as developing countries, such as India, continue to industrialize, the demand for energy will grow larger and larger. In developing nations, environmental restrictions are typically much less strict than in more developed countries, allowing more of the byproducts of burning fossil fuels to be released into the environment as air pollution.

 

However, developing nations are not the only places where air pollution is a major concern. Even in highly developed western countries, air pollution from industrial process and especially from vehicle exhaust poses a significant health risk, particularly in large urban areas. For this reason, protection from air pollution is needed all around the world, not just in the developing world.

 

  How to Protect Yourself

 

By far the easiest way to protect yourself against the harmful effects of air pollution is to make use of a home air purifier. Although you can’t control the outside air, you can remove harmful pollutants from the air in your home, thus limiting your exposure to them.

 

Have questions about using air purification systems to protect yourself and your family from harmful pollutants? We’re here to help. Feel free to contact us with your questions, and we’ll help you through the process of picking out the best air purifier for your needs.