A new study published in Nature Communications found that fine particle air pollution (PM2.5) caused 4 to 6 million deaths worldwide in 2017, and that more than 1 million of those deaths were from fossil fuels. Another 767,000 deaths are attributed to biofuels worldwide.
The article notes that if we had clean, renewable energy, deaths from fossil fuels and from biofuels could be avoided.
This is why we say: HEALTHY AIR IS HEALTH CARE. All of these deaths, and the illness and suffering leading up to them, are totally preventable. Cleaning up the air is just as good for health as quit smoking and other health programs.
In the United States in 2017, 47,000 deaths could be attributed to PM2.5, with 10% of the deaths due to burning coal, and 28% of the deaths due to burning oil and gas, for a total of 17,500 deaths from fossil fuels. In 2017, 13% of PM2.5 deaths in the U.S. were from biofuels, or 6000 deaths.
In addition to number of deaths, the researchers looked at how many babies were born premature, and with low birthweight.
Worldwide, there were 1.4 million preterm births and 700,000 babies who had low birthweight due to PM2.5.
In the U.S., there were 8,000 preterm births and 5,000 babies who had low birthweight due to PM2.5.
The researchers also looked at cause of death, and found that worldwide, 2.4 million or 63% of PM2.5 deaths were from heart disease and stroke together.
Worldwide Cause of Death—Number of Deaths———% of all PM2.5 Deaths
Heart Disease and Stroke……. 2.4 million …………………………… 63%
COPD …………………………… 600,000 ……………………………… 16%
Diabetes ………………………… 200,000 ……………………………….. 5%
Lung Cancer ……………………. 300,000 ……………………………… 7.5%
Pneumonia ……………………… 300,000 …………………………….. 7.5%
In the United States, 26,000 or 54% of PM2.5 deaths were from heart disease and stroke together.
U.S. Cause of Death————–Number of Deaths———% of all PM2.5 Deaths
Heart Disease and Stroke ………… 26,000 ……………………………. 54%
COPD ………………………………….. 7,000 …………………………… 15%
Diabetes ………………………………. 4,000 ……………………………. 9%
Lung Cancer ………………………….. 8,000 ……………………………. 17%
Pneumonia ……………………………. 2,000 ……………………………. 4%
Read a news article about the study here.
Read the scientific study in Nature here.
07/20/2021
