Study Links Pollution to 135 Million Premature Deaths Worldwide Over Four Decades
Weather Patterns like El Nino and Indian Ocean Dipole Worsen Air Quality
Pollution from man-made emissions and natural sources like wildfires has been linked to approximately 135 million premature deaths worldwide between 1980 and 2020, according to a study led by Singapore's Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
The study revealed that weather phenomena such as El Nino and the Indian Ocean Dipole intensified the concentration of pollutants in the air, exacerbating their harmful effects. These tiny particles, known as particulate matter 2.5 or "PM 2.5," can enter the bloodstream when inhaled and are produced by vehicle and industrial emissions, as well as natural sources like fires and dust storms.
NTU stated that PM 2.5 pollution was associated with about 135 million premature deaths globally during the 40-year study period. The study, published in the journal Environment International, found that people were dying younger than the average life expectancy from treatable or preventable conditions, including stroke, heart and lung disease, and cancer. Weather patterns increased the premature death rate by 14 percent.
Asia experienced the highest number of premature deaths attributed to PM 2.5 pollution, with more than 98 million people affected, primarily in China and India. Other countries with significant numbers of premature deaths included Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Japan.
Steve Yim, an associate professor at NTU's Asian School of the Environment and lead researcher of the study, emphasized the impact of climate patterns on air pollution. "When certain climate events happen, like El Nino, pollution levels can go up, which means more people might die prematurely because of PM 2.5 pollution," Yim said.
The researchers used satellite data from NASA to measure particulate matter levels in the Earth's atmosphere and analyzed statistics on pollution-related deaths from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Information on weather patterns was sourced from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The study focused on the effects of ordinary weather patterns on air pollution, with future studies planned to explore the impact of climate change.
The World Health Organization has stated that the combined effects of ambient and household air pollution are associated with 6.7 million premature deaths worldwide each year.
The study revealed that weather phenomena such as El Nino and the Indian Ocean Dipole intensified the concentration of pollutants in the air, exacerbating their harmful effects. These tiny particles, known as particulate matter 2.5 or "PM 2.5," can enter the bloodstream when inhaled and are produced by vehicle and industrial emissions, as well as natural sources like fires and dust storms.
NTU stated that PM 2.5 pollution was associated with about 135 million premature deaths globally during the 40-year study period. The study, published in the journal Environment International, found that people were dying younger than the average life expectancy from treatable or preventable conditions, including stroke, heart and lung disease, and cancer. Weather patterns increased the premature death rate by 14 percent.
Asia experienced the highest number of premature deaths attributed to PM 2.5 pollution, with more than 98 million people affected, primarily in China and India. Other countries with significant numbers of premature deaths included Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Japan.
Steve Yim, an associate professor at NTU's Asian School of the Environment and lead researcher of the study, emphasized the impact of climate patterns on air pollution. "When certain climate events happen, like El Nino, pollution levels can go up, which means more people might die prematurely because of PM 2.5 pollution," Yim said.
The researchers used satellite data from NASA to measure particulate matter levels in the Earth's atmosphere and analyzed statistics on pollution-related deaths from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Information on weather patterns was sourced from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The study focused on the effects of ordinary weather patterns on air pollution, with future studies planned to explore the impact of climate change.
The World Health Organization has stated that the combined effects of ambient and household air pollution are associated with 6.7 million premature deaths worldwide each year.
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