Air pollution from fossil fuels causes almost 1 in 5 deaths worldwide each year

Air pollution from fossil fuels causes almost 1 in 5 deaths worldwide each year

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Combustion of fossil fuels such as coal and oil produces greenhouse gases that trap solar radiation in the atmosphere and cause climate change. But it also releases small toxic particles known as PM2.5. These small particles are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and can aggravate respiratory conditions, which can lead to lung cancer, heart disease, stroke and early death.
Research has also found an association between higher levels of long-term pollution and more deaths due to Covid-19.

In a study published Tuesday in the journal Environmental Research, researchers from Harvard University, in collaboration with the University of Birmingham, the University of Leicester and University College London, found that exposure to particles of fossil fuel emissions is 18% of the total global deaths – almost one in five – in 2018.

The figure is much higher than previously thought. Recently in 2019, scientists estimated that 4.2 million people die annually from particulate matter pollution in the air, a figure that includes people who die from dust pollution and smoke from veld fires and agricultural fires.

The new study shows that an estimated 8.7 million deaths in 2018 were linked to fossil fuel emissions alone.

Eloise Marais, associate professor of physical geography at UCL and co-author of the study, said the research contributes to the “increasing evidence” that air pollution from fossil fuels is harmful to global health.

“We can not continue in good conscience to rely on fossil fuels if we know there are such serious health consequences and viable, cleaner alternatives,” she said in a statement.

The scientists use a global 3D model of atmospheric chemistry developed at Harvard to get a better picture of pollution at a more local level.

Traditionally, satellite and surface observations have been used to estimate the average global annual concentrations of PM2.5 particles in the air. Using the 3D model, the scientists were able to divide the globe into a grid with boxes as small as 50 kilometers by 60 kilometers (31 miles by 37 miles) and look at pollution levels individually in each subject.

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This enabled them to assess the impact of the pollution in places where people live and to distinguish between different sources of pollution.

They found that China, India, parts of the eastern United States, Europe and Southeast Asia were worst affected. According to the data, as many as 30.7% of the deaths in East Asia, 16.8% in Europe and 13.1% in the US can be attributed to fossil fuel pollution.

To model the pollution, the researchers used actual emissions and meteorological data, mostly from 2012. The year was chosen to eliminate the impact of the El Niño phenomenon, which could worsen depending on the region. They then updated the data to reflect a 44% drop in fossil fuel pollution in China between 2012 and 2018.

The researchers estimate that China’s efforts to reduce fossil fuel emissions have saved 2.4 million lives worldwide, including 1.5 million in China.

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