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1 in 4 deaths worldwide in 2012 caused by environment-related factors: WHO

Tuesday, 15 March 2016 8:46 AM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 16 March 2016 3:59 AM ]

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Margaret Chan (R) gestures during a press conference in Geneva, March 8, 2016. (Photo by AFP)

The World Health Organization (WHO) says nearly a quarter of all deaths in 2012 were caused by environment-related factors such as air, water, and soil pollution, as well as unsafe roads and stressful work environments.

A report released on Tuesday by the WHO said that an estimated 12.6 million people died in 2012 as a result of living or working in unhealthy environments, a figure equivalent to 23 percent of all deaths reported that year.

The deaths were caused by human-caused environmental risks such as pollution, chemical exposure, climate change and ultraviolet radiation, among other factors.

The report provided a stretched definition of environment-related deaths, also including among the causes of the deaths such factors as injuries caused as a result of access to firearms in the environment.

As many as 8.2 million of deaths back then were attributed to air pollution, including second-hand smoke, which the report says were responsible for heart disease, cancers, and chronic respiratory diseases.

About 1.7 million global deaths were reportedly caused by “unintentional injuries,” such as those caused by road accidents.

Another 846,000 environmental deaths were also linked to diarrheal disease, caused by water pollution and unsafe drinking water.

“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,” WHO chief Margaret Chan warned in a statement.

The WHO’s public health chief, Maria Neira, also urged countries to invest in strategies “to reduce environmental risks in our cities, homes, and workplaces.”

The study found that the majority of environmentally-caused deaths took place in Southeast Asia, followed by the Western Pacific region. The Americas was the least affected region.

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