Unhealthy environments could be blamed for killing an estimated 12.6 million people in 2012, a new World Health Organization (WHO) report found.
The United Nations health agency's report examined death rates in relation to people's exposure to environmental hazards, such as pollution and climate change. The researchers found that these environmental risk factors contributed to more than 100 diseases and health conditions, and made up nearly 25 percent of all deaths recorded throughout the world.
Non-communicable diseases were the leading cause of environment-related deaths, killing 8.2 million people worldwide. The types of non-communicable diseases that were the most common were cardiovascular diseases. The authors of the report calculated that strokes were tied to 2.5 million deaths per year and ischemic heart disease could be linked to 2.3 million deaths per year. The researchers noted that many of these non-communicable diseases were caused by air pollution, such as secondhand smoke.
Other environment-related deaths were caused by cancers, chronic respiratory conditions, respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, neonatal conditions, malaria, and unintentional and intentional injuries
The researchers did find improvements in some areas. They reported that deaths from infectious diseases that lead to diarrhea and malaria, which can be caused by poor water quality and mosquitoes, fell. They attributed the decline to the enforcement of policies that provided clean water and reduced exposure to mosquitoes via mosquito netting and education. Governments and health officials who worked to improve vaccination rates and increase access to medications also helped reduce deaths from infectious diseases.
"A healthy environment underpins a healthy population," Dr. Margaret Chan, the WHO Director-General, said. "If countries do not take actions to make environments where people live and work healthy, millions will continue to become ill and die too young."
The report found that environmental factors affected children younger than five and adults between the ages of 50 and 79 the most, with death tolls reaching 1.7 million and 4.9 million, respectively. In order to reduce these numbers, the report stressed the importance of adapting cost-effective measures.
"There's an urgent need for investment in strategies to reduce environmental risks in our cities, homes and workplaces", said Maria Neira, WHO Director, Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health. "Such investments can significantly reduce the rising worldwide burden of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, injuries, and cancers, and lead to immediate savings in healthcare costs."
The report pointed out strategies that have already been proven to be effective at preventing environment-related disease. Some of these strategies include using clean technology, enforcing adequate sanitation procedures and increasing more tobacco smoke-free legislations.
Despite knowing that these methods work, the experts said many countries need help implementing them. The WHO is currently working with many county leaders on ways to combat air pollution.
