9 out of 10 people globally breathe polluted air -WHO expert

The Director of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, Dr. Maria Neira of the World Health Organisation(WHO), has said that 9 out of every 10 people around the world, particularly those living in cities, are breathing air that is not consistent with what is considered good standards on Monday.

While Speaking during an interview session tagged, ‘Science in 5’ posted on WHO’s website, She said, air pollution remained a major public health issue.

More than seven million premature deaths every year are associated with exposure to air pollution, she stressed.

“Exposure to air pollution is responsible for chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, lung cancer, pneumonia, name it. But in addition to that, we know now that these toxic particles will come to our lungs and from there to the bloodstream will reach our cardiovascular system and then be responsible for ischemic heart diseases, neurological disorders, stroke, neurological problems as well in general and reproductive system issues.”

“So, as you can imagine, all of those reasons tell us to consider that air pollution is one of the biggest public health issues we are confronting today,” she said.

She further explaining how COVID-19 affects a person living in a highly polluted environment where air pollution levels are very high, the physician said long-term exposure to air pollution will affect the immune system and, therefore, make those exposed to it more susceptible to respiratory diseases.

“And obviously, COVID-19 is a respiratory disease. In addition to that, we know that exposure to air pollution will increase the risk for chronic diseases like cardiopulmonary, like metabolic diseases, diabetes. And we all know now that those diseases are the so-called co-morbidities that will increase the risk for more severity and even later outcome if you are a patient with COVID-19. So, yes,” she said.

To best way to reduce air pollution according to the expert is to stop burning fossil fuels.

She said the combustion of fossil fuels is contributing not only to climate change but to generating high levels of pollutants that then end up in the lungs.

Okwuego/PHW