At least 1.9 million people die each year from heart disease and nearly a million from strokes caused by outdoor air pollution alone, according to a recently released report by the World Heart Federation (WHF), reiterating the fact that air pollution has become the single greatest environmental risk to health.
The researchers emphasize in their study what has been repeated often in recent years about air pollution and its specific impact on the human heart: the effect of air pollution on heart disease will lead to millions of preventable deaths each year.
“The number of deaths from cardiovascular diseases caused by air pollution has been rising for a decade and is expected to increase further,” the report said.
The harmful effects of prolonged exposure to high levels of air pollution can be wide-ranging. This also includes obesity and diabetes, which are compounded by the failure of global policies to meet air pollution reduction targets.
Experts at the World Heart Federation said the figure is likely much higher because the data only looks at one air pollutant and only takes into account heart disease and stroke, while many other cardiovascular diseases are worsened by air pollution. Cardiovascular disease is already the world’s leading cause of death, killing at least 20 million people each year.
“Air pollution is pervasive and affects everyone. Outdoor and indoor pollution are the main causes of cardiovascular disease deaths, which continue to claim the largest number of lives each year. The impacts of air pollution from multiple sources add up, often widening healthcare gaps for those who are also vulnerable to pollution and worsening outcomes across demographics,” said Mark Miller of the University of Edinburgh and Chair of the WHF Expert Group on Air Pollution and Climate Change.
Air pollution comes from many sources, including transportation, industry and wildfires, but the report also details how indoor air pollution poses a serious health risk.
For a country like India, this is a matter of extreme concern as several parts of the country are affected by high levels of air pollution, especially during the onset of winter. Beyond the smoke and smog we can see, tiny invisible particles can penetrate deep into the lungs, heart and other organs.
According to a new study published in the journal Lancet Planetary Health earlier this month, in 10 major Indian cities (Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Shimla and Varanasi), about 33,000 deaths per year are attributable to fine particulate matter pollution levels of 2.5, which exceed the WHO recommended limit of 15 micrograms per cubic meter. The national standard for fine particulate matter or PM 2.5 (24 hours) is 60 micrograms per cubic meter.
The authors recommend upgrading the national standard, recalibrating the Graduated Response Action Plan, which largely focuses on pollution extremes, to focus on year-round action, and covering more cities for air pollution control, as most cities in India do not meet the WHO guidelines.
“Short-term exposure to PM2.5 was associated with an elevated risk of death in India, even at concentrations well below the current Indian standard for PM2.5,” the study concluded.
The negative consequences will only worsen if governments do not act proactively by adopting stricter regulations and rigorous measures. Most importantly, these measures must be implemented effectively.
National Health Editor Rhythma Kaul analyzes the impact of this week’s most significant health news stories
