WHO: Air Pollution Kills Two Million Per Year, Worldwide

From the Environmental News Service:

Air pollution in cities across the world is causing some two million premature deaths every year, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Thursday (Oct. 5), urging nations to adopt stricter air pollution standards. The international health agency's new air quality guidelines call for nations to reduce the impact of air pollution by substantially cutting levels of particulate matter, ozone and sulfur dioxide.

"By reducing air pollution levels, we can help countries to reduce the global burden of disease from respiratory infections, heart disease, and lung cancer which they otherwise would be facing," said Maria Neira, WHO director of public health and the environment. "Moreover, action to reduce the direct impact of air pollution will also cut emissions of gases which contribute to climate change and provide other health benefits."

For the WHO release, click here. For the agency's air quality guidelines, click here.

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