World Health Organization passes resolutions to address air pollution

The World Health Organization found increasing evidence that link air pollution as the biggest environmental health risk with nearly one in eight deaths in the world in 2012.

At the recently concluded World Health Assembly in Geneva last week, the World Health Organization cited new research findings, which reveal air pollution's role in the development of certain illnesses such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

New data gathered by the organization reveal that air pollution - both indoor and outdoor - has caused seven million deaths in the world, making it "the world's largest single environmental health risk."

Outdoor air pollution led to 3.7 million deaths. Out of these figures, 80% were caused by cardiovascular diseases such as stroke and ischemic heart disease while 11% were caused by respiratory diseases and only 6% were caused by lung cancer.

Indoor air pollution, on the other hand, was attributed as the cause of 4.3 million deaths. 60% of which were linked to cardiovascular diseases, 22% in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 12% in respiratory infections in children, and 6% in lung cancer.

Majority of these figures came from South-East Asia and Western Pacific, which carry two of the highest levels of air pollution in the world in 2012. According to the WHO, these new research findings will help signal "the need for concerted action to clean up the air we all breathe."

"Cleaning up the air we breathe prevents noncommunicable diseases as well as reduces disease risks among women and vulnerable groups, including children and the elderly," said WHO Assistant Director-General Family, Women and Children's Health Dr. Flavia Bustreo.

Delegates at the assembly debated on the matter and passed on a resolution, which calls for raising awareness on air pollution and its untoward effects on the health of every person. The resolution also calls for cooperation between different sectors in the government to formulate and implement strategies in order to reduce health costs and save lives.