Scientists: Fine dust pollution has claimed hundreds of millions of lives over 40 years

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The results of a study conducted by scientists from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore revealed the number of people who died in the world due to fine dust during the past forty years.

The scientific journal Environment International indicates that the size of fine particles is 2.5 micrometers and less, and they come from automobile exhaust, industrial emissions, and natural sources, including gas fires and dust storms.

Since the size of 2.5 micrometers is very small, we inhale it with the air and it penetrates deep into the lungs, which leads to the emergence of health problems, especially among members of the risk group - children, the elderly, and people who suffer from chronic diseases of the respiratory system.

The study showed that air pollution caused by fine dust during the years 1980-2020 caused 135 million premature deaths.

According to expert assessment, one-third of these deaths (33.3 percent) were due to stroke, and the other third (32.7 percent) were due to myocardial infarction. The other deaths were due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lower respiratory tract infections and lung cancer.

To determine how PM2.5 particles affect mortality, researchers studied NASA satellite data on the level of fine particles in the Earth's atmosphere. They also analyzed statistics on morbidity and mortality caused by diseases linked to environmental pollution.

The researchers discovered that during the past forty years, 363 major air pollution events occurred in the world, meaning an average of nine incidents per year. The duration of each pollution period ranged from two to nine months, and that the year 2002 witnessed the largest number of air pollution incidents (15 events). And in 2004 and 2006 (14 events annually).

According to the researchers, 98.1 million people died in Asia during the years 1980-2020 due to fine particle air pollution, including 49 and 26.1 million in China and India, respectively.

In Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Japan, the number of deaths due to air pollution with fine particles ranged between 2 and 5 million people in each of them.