SoGA report stark reminder of significant impacts air pollution has on human health
The first edition of the State of Global Air (SoGA) report, released by the Health Effects Institute (HEI) and backed by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has raised a strong alarm over air pollution’s deepening impact on human health.
It revealed that air pollution caused 8.1 million deaths across the globe in 2021 and many millions have to address chronic diseases, affecting healthcare systems, societies and economies. Air pollution has become the second leading global risk factor for premature death.
HEI President Dr Elena Craft said she hopes the concerning information in the report will inspire change. The report offers a stark reminder of the significant impacts air pollution has on human health. “Improving air quality and global public Health is practical and achievable,” she said.
Thousands succumb to effects of air pollution daily
The SoGA report found that children under 5 are particularly vulnerable to air pollution. Children are “uniquely vulnerable” to the problem and effects can begin in the womb. Air pollution left more than 700,000 children in this age group dead in 2021.
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Deputy Executive Director Kitty van der Heijden highlighted that roughly 2,000 young ones under 5 succumb to the effects of air pollution every day. “The global agency is undeniable,” she highlighted.
“It is imperative governments and businesses consider these estimates and locally available data and use it to inform meaningful, child-focused action to reduce air pollution and protect children’s health,” Kitty van der Heijden further noted.
State of Global Air report says progress has been made
The SoGA report found that pollutants like outdoor fine particulate matter (PM2.5) caused more than 90% of global air pollution deaths. Other pollutants like household air pollution, Ozone (O3), and nitrogen dioxide also contribute to the deterioration of human health.
In addition to bringing the negative effects of air pollution under the limelight, the report also claims that there has been better awareness among the global population about the harms of being exposed to household air pollution.
The report also found a 53% reduction in the death rate of children under 5 since 2000 due to increased access to clean energy for cooking. Regions experiencing the highest levels of air pollution have been installing air pollution monitoring networks and using stricter policies.
