Number of deaths from air pollution in world is increased

KATHMANDU:Recently, the State of Global Air 2024 report was made public.  The Health Effects Institute and Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation issued this report in partnership with UNICEF.

According to the State of Global Air study, air pollution died 8.1 million people worldwide in 2021. In 2019, over 7.2 million people died as a result of air pollution. According to the report, 48,500 people died in Nepal in 2021 as a result of air pollution. In the 2019 report, the figure was 42,100.

According to the report, 58% of the deaths due to air pollution worldwide are due to PM 2.5 i.e. toxic air mixed with smog, 38% due to indoor pollution and 6% due to ozone. According to reports, air pollution is the second leading cause of death in the globe after high blood pressure. South Asian and African countries have high levels of air pollution.

One of the primary sources of air pollution is the over use of fossil fuels and biofuels. Apart from these, open burning of garbage, lack of waste management, burning of agricultural residues, forest fires, excessive use of pesticides are the causes of air pollution.