WHO: 10 facts on environmental health risks
Air pollution and climate change are two major environmental health risks. The World Health Organization estimates that by 2030, climate change will cause 250,000 additional deaths per year.
Here are 10 key facts you should know about environmental health risks:
- Outdoor air pollution is a major environmental health problem affecting everyone. In 2012, an estimated 7 million people died as a result of air pollution exposure.
- Indoor air pollution is responsible for 4.3 million deaths each year, mostly in low- and middle-income countries.
- Each year, an estimated 13.7 million deaths are attributed to environmental factors.
- Chemical exposure is a major factor in environmental health risks. For example, 3 million people die annually from harmful use of chemicals.
- The global disease burden could be reduced by 15% by improving water, sanitation, hygiene, and management of environmental risks.
- Natural disasters have a significant impact on human health and are increasing in frequency and intensity.
- Every year, environmental risk factors take the lives of 1.7 million children under 5 years old.
- Unsafe water, poor sanitation, and hygiene cause approximately 842,000 deaths each year.
- Climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year between 2030 and 2050.
- More than one third of the burden of disease in children under 5 is due to environmental risks.
