Health and the environment: addressing the health impact of air pollution, April 2015. World Health Organization.
Excerpts – The present report describes the links between air pollution and health, and outlines some strategies for prevention, control and mitigation of the adverse effects of air pollution on health, including coordinated action between the health and other sectors.
Air pollution is one of the main avoidable causes of disease and death globally. About 4.3 million deaths each year, most in developing countries, are associated with exposure to household(indoor) air pollution. A further 3.7 million deaths a year are attributed to ambient (outdoor) air pollution.
More than half the deaths due to pneumonia in children aged under five years are attributed to household air pollution, making it a leading factor putting children’s health at risk. Cohort studies also have reported significant associations between air pollution and lung function development, respiratory infections and asthma in young children. There is also consistent evidence of the association between exposure to air pollution with birth outcomes, including low birthweight, preterm birth and small for gestational age births.
