Millions of people die every year from heart disease and strokes, largely due to air pollution, according to a study by the World Heart Foundation. The study labels air pollution as the greatest environmental health risk, with half of the nearly 7 million annual deaths related to cardiovascular conditions caused by air pollution alone. Specifically, 1.9 million deaths are attributed to heart disease and almost a million to strokes caused by outdoor air pollution.
The study indicates that the number of deaths from heart disease linked to air pollution has increased by as much as 27% in some regions over the past decade. It also highlights that air pollution levels in certain countries in Southeast Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean are nearly 10 times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended levels. In 2019, the Western Pacific region recorded the highest number of deaths from heart disease and stroke due to outdoor air pollution, with nearly 1 million deaths, followed closely by the Southeast Asian Region with 762,000 deaths.
Notably, researchers estimate that 45% of countries in the Western Pacific region have experienced rising air pollution, leading to elevated mortality rates from heart disease and stroke. In regions like Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Eastern Mediterranean, air pollution levels are alarmingly high, posing a significant threat to public health. Specifically, countries in the Eastern Mediterranean, including Kuwait, Egypt, and Afghanistan, have been identified as facing significant challenges with high levels of PM2.5 pollution, known as soot.
Dr. Mark Miller, chair of the World Heart Foundation’s air pollution and climate change expert group, emphasized that while air pollution has long been associated with lung conditions, there is a growing recognition of its impact on cardiovascular health. He highlighted that air pollution is linked to approximately 1.9 million deaths from heart disease and close to 1 million deaths from stroke worldwide. The report also underscores the importance of improving monitoring and modeling of air pollutants in low and middle-income countries, where urbanization and limited access to healthcare may exacerbate exposure to harmful pollutants.
According to Tim Dexter, the clean air lead at Asthma + Lung U.K., toxic air is a public health emergency in Britain, contributing to up to 43,000 premature deaths annually. He stressed the urgent need for bold action to address the issue of toxic air, calling for political leaders to prioritize public health over politics. The report also emphasizes that poor indoor and outdoor air quality is not solely a concern for low and middle-income countries, but also affects more developed nations. Dr. Miller reiterated that there is no safe level of air pollution and highlighted the importance of further research to understand the impact of various types of air pollution on health, both indoors and outdoors.
