Pollution causes 9 million deaths each year

An important published study shows that environmental pollution is the leading cause of death, more than war, violence, natural disasters, poverty and disease.

According to a large-scale study published in the medical journal The Lancet, worldwide, 1 in 6 deaths is due to exposure to toxic substances. The financial costs for pollution-related welfare issues are also very large, at about $ 4.6 trillion a year, equivalent to 6.2% of the global economy.

The 51-page report is made by 47 medical experts, scientists and policy makers.(Photo: AP).

"There have been many studies on pollution, but they have never received the same resources or attention as research on AIDS or climate change," AP quoted the lead author of the study, Philip epidemiologist. Landrigan of Medical School Icahn of Mount Sinai Hospital, New York.

"Pollution is a huge problem that people often don't mind because they only look at its small aspects , " Landrigan said. According to experts, the number of 9 million premature deaths due to pollution in 2015 is only estimated, in fact the number of deaths due to pollution is certainly greater.

This unofficial figure of 9 million is 1.5 times higher than the number of people who die from smoking, three times the total number of deaths from AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined, 6 times higher than the number of deaths due to road accidents , and 15 times the number of people killed in war or other forms of violence, according to data from the Global Burden Disease Assessment (Global Burden Disease).

According to research results, people in Asia and Africa are most affected by environmental pollution , while India is at the top of the list.

Areas such as sub-Saharan Africa have not yet established an air pollution monitoring system. People do not pay attention to soil pollution, and there are still many potentially hazardous chemicals that are ignored. Less than half of the 5,000 dispersing chemicals in the environment since 1950 have been tested for safety or toxicity.

Poor countries and the poorest neighborhoods in richer countries are the main subjects affected by environmental pollution . "People do not realize that pollution causes economic damage. People who are sick or dead cannot contribute to the economy , " said Richard Fuller, head of global toxic watchdog Pure Earth. .

India is the country most heavily affected by environmental pollution.(Photo: AP).

Although the world has never made an international statement about pollution, this topic is getting more and more attention.

In April, the World Bank declared that reducing pollution in any form would be considered a global priority. Next December, the United Nations will hold its first conference on pollution.

"The relationship between pollution and poverty is very clear," said Ernesto Sanchez-Triana, a leading environmental expert at the World Bank. "Pollution control will help us solve many other problems, from climate change to malnutrition. These are essential links not to be missed."