The number of early deaths caused by air pollution is double previous estimates, meaning that more people are being killed by toxic air than by tobacco smoke, according to a story in The Guardian citing new research published in the European Heart Journal.
The research scientists were said to have used new data to estimate that nearly 800,000 people died ‘prematurely’ each year in Europe because of dirty air, and that each life was cut short by an average of more than two years.
The health damage caused by air pollution in Europe is higher than the global average. Its dense population and poor air results in exposure that is among the highest in the world.
The new research indicates that while air pollution hits the lungs first, its impact via the bloodstream on heart disease and strokes is responsible for twice as many deaths as are caused by respiratory diseases.
The Guardian story said the new research built on research published in September and confirmed a calculation of 8.8 million early deaths a year from outdoor air pollution around the world, double previous estimates.
“To put this into perspective, this means that air pollution causes more extra deaths a year than tobacco smoking,” said Prof Thomas Münzel of the University Medical Centre Mainz, Germany, and one of the scientists behind the new study. “Smoking is avoidable but air pollution is not.”