WHO: 9 in 10 people breathing polluted air

MANILA, Philippines — The very air we breathe is growing dangerously polluted as the world gets hotter and more crowded, with engines continuing to pump out dirty emissions, the World Health Organization (WHO) said yesterday.

In a statement, the WHO pointed out that nine out of 10 people now breathe polluted air, which also kills seven million people every year.  

“The health effects of air pollution are serious – one third of deaths from stroke, lung cancer and heart disease are due to air pollution,” WHO said.

This is an equivalent effect to that of smoking tobacco and much higher than the effects of eating too much salt.

“Air pollution is hard to escape, no matter how rich an area you live in. It is all around us,” it added.

WHO said microscopic pollutants in the air can slip past our body’s defenses, penetrating deep into our respiratory and circulatory system, damaging our lungs, heart and brain.

The lack of visible smog, WHO said, “is no indication that the air is healthy.”

Across the world, both cities and villages are seeing toxic pollutants in the air exceed the average annual values recommended by WHO’s air quality guidelines. 

To address the worsening pollution, WHO and its partners are convening the first Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health in Geneva on Oct. 29 to Nov. 1 “to rally the world towards major commitments to fight this problem.”

The conference is aimed at raising awareness of the growing public health challenge and share information and tools on the health risks of air pollution and its interventions.

WHO added there are two main types of pollution  –ambient air pollution (outdoor pollution) and household (or indoor) air pollution, which is generated by household combustion of fuels.

Household pollution is caused burning fuel such as coal, wood or kerosene using open fires or basic stoves in poorly ventilated spaces.

Both indoor and outdoor air pollution can contribute to each other, as air moves from inside buildings to the outside, and vice versa.

Data showed household air pollution kills some four million people a year and tends to affect countries in Africa and Asia.