Nearly all of the world’s population is exposed to unhealthy levels of fine and harmful air pollutants, according to a new study, which urges health officials and researchers to focus on curbing major sources of pollution, such as emissions from power plants, industrial plants and vehicles.
The study, published Monday in the journal “The Lancet Planetary Health”, said that short-term exposure to fine and toxic air particles is a major factor in increasing disease and mortality.
Small air particles, 2.5 microns or less in width, are considered among the most toxic air pollutants of concern to human health, as they can travel to the lungs and bloodstream, and may cause asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes, lung failure, and damage to mental health. , and premature death.
Nearly seven million people died worldwide from air pollution in 2019, according to the latest estimates.
Few studies have reported spatiotemporal variations of daily concentrations of this substance over recent decades.
This study assessed the concentration of these toxic particles daily, and then calculated the monthly average over a twenty-year period from 2000 to 2019 to investigate global seasonal patterns.
The highest toxic concentrations were in East Asia, South Asia, and North Africa.
“Almost no one is safe from air pollution,” said the study’s lead author, Yuming Gu, adding, “The surprising result is that almost all parts of the world have average annual concentrations of PM 2.5 above the air quality guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization.” What was reported by the “Washington Post”.
The World Health Organization indicates that annual concentrations of more than 5 micrograms per cubic meter are considered dangerous.
And in 2021, the World Health Organization halved acceptable limits for PM 2.5, to help make better efforts to reduce air pollution and protect populations.
The US Environmental Protection Agency sets its annual health standard at 12 micrograms per cubic meter.
The study found that only 0.001 percent of the world’s population is exposed to pollution levels below this percentage, and that worldwide, 70 percent of days of the year are above the recommended PM 2.5 levels.
And in some places, air pollution was higher at certain times of the year.
For example, levels of particulate matter increased in northeastern China during the winter, which the study attributed to the possible increased use of fossil fuels for heating during the colder months.
Other countries, such as Brazil, showed higher levels of particulate matter during August and September, “likely related to emissions from farmers clearing land with fire, known as slash-and-burn farming,” according to the study.
The study found that over the past two decades, exposure to pollution has increased in South Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America and the Caribbean. Meanwhile, exposure to fine particulate matter decreased in Europe and North America.
Ear, nose and throat doctor, Nilo Tomala, told The Washington Post that this was due to legislation and concerted efforts to reduce air pollution.