Global estimated deaths (millions) due to pollution risk factors from the Global Burden of Disease study (GBD; 2015)42 versus WHO data (2012)99, 101
These air pollution numbers are likely too low based on this more recent research in 2019 that estimates 8.8 million per year but that study was only an estimate for air pollution: European Society of Cardiology. “Air pollution causes 8.8 million extra early deaths a year.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12 March 2019.
| GBD study best estimate (95% CI) | WHO best estimate (95% CI) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Air (total) | 6·5 (5·7–7·3) | 6·5 (5·4–7·4) | |
| Household air | 2·9 (2·2–3·6) | 4·3 (3·7–4·8) | |
| Ambient particulate | 4·2 (3·7–4·8) | 3·0 (3·7–4·8) | |
| Ambient ozone | 0·3 (0·1–0·4) | ·· | |
| Water (total) | 1·8 (1·4–2·2) | 0·8 (0·7–1·0) | |
| Unsafe sanitation | 0·8 (0·7–0·9) | 0·3 (0·1–0·4) | |
| Unsafe source | 1·3 (1·0–1·4) | 0·5 (0·2–0·7) | |
| Occupational (total) | 0·8 (0·8–0·9) | 0·4 (0·3–0·4) | |
| Carcinogens | 0·5 (0·5–0·5) | 0·1 (0·1–0·1) | |
| Particulates | 0·4 (0·3–0·4) | 0·2 (0·2–0·3) | |
| Soil, heavy metals, and chemicals | 0·5 (0·2–0·8) | 0·7 (0·2–0·8) | |
| Lead | 0·5 (0·2–0·8) | 0·7 (0·2–0·8) | |
| Total | 9·0 | 8·4 | |
Note that the totals for air pollution, water pollution, and all pollution are less than the arithmetic sum of the individual risk factors within each of these categories because these have overlapping contributions—eg, household air pollution also contributes to ambient air pollution and vice versa.
Good infographic based on the Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health Report published: October 19, 2017
