It is estimated that pollution is responsible for 16% of all deaths worldwide. In the most severely affected countries, pollution-related disease is responsible for more than 25% of deaths. It is important to note that pollution disproportionately kills the poor and the vulnerable.
Pollution is the world’s largest environmental cause of disease and premature death.
The Lancet Commission on pollution and health brought together leaders, researchers and practitioners from the fields of pollution management, environmental health and sustainable development to elucidate the full health and economic costs of air, water, chemical and soil pollution worldwide.
By analysing existing and emerging data, the Commission reveals that pollution makes a significant and underreported contribution to the global burden of disease, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
The Commission also provides six recommendations to policymakers and other stakeholders looking for efficient, cost-effective and actionable approaches to pollution mitigation and prevention.
- Make pollution prevention a high priority nationally and internationally and integrate it into country and city planning processes.
- Mobilise, increase and focus the funding and international technical support dedicated to pollution control.
- Establish systems to monitor pollution and its effects on health.
- uild multi-sectoral partnerships for pollution control.
- Integrate pollution mitigation into planning processes for NCDs.
- Research pollution and pollution control.
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