Life expectancy in at least six countries has fallen drastically due to poor air quality, which now poses more of a risk to citizens than smoking.
As the climate crisis rages on, air pollution around the world is worsening. Along with it, so is public health.
An updated report conducted at the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) has seen researchers declare that βparticulate air pollution is consistently the worldβs greatest external risk to human health.β
They say that it has gotten so bad in some regions that it is even more dangerous than the continued use of tobacco or alcohol.
When talking about air pollution, the scientists are referring to fine particulate matter released into the atmosphere by fire, industrial activity, and motorised vehicles. These fine particles are known to be carcinogenic, increasing the risk of heart disease, lung disease, and strokes.
In recent years, extreme weather caused by climate change β such as high temperatures, wildfires, and drought β has resulted in a spike in the number of these particles found in the atmosphere.
Figures from the World Health Organisation (WHO) state that these emissions are responsible for 36 percent of lung cancers, 34 percent of strokes, and 27 percent of heart disease globally.
The WHO has set out an official safety threshold for air quality, however many countries currently fail to meet the standard. If they did manage to comply, global life expectancy would be raised by more than 2 years.
So what are local governments doing to improve their air quality?