Fossil fuel pollution is found responsible for 5.1 million deaths every year

Air pollution related to the burning of fossil fuels causes 5.13 million deaths on worldwide, yearly basis. That’s the conclusion reached in a study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ). This figure is higher than previously estimated, leading scientists to emphasize that replacing fossil fuels with renewable energies would bring “tremendous benefits for both public health and the climate”.

In total, air pollution by fine particles and ozone is estimated to cause 8.34 million excess deaths per year worldwide, with mortality being particularly high in the South East and South Asia areas, due to high pollution and population density.

The team, made up of scientists from various European and North American laboratories, developed a new analysis model to estimate all causes of death and account for excess mortality (i.e. deaths above what would be expected in a given period of time). Until now, few global studies had attributed deaths to specific pollution sources.

The researchers used data from the 2019 Global Burden of Morbidity study (a study of mortality and disability caused by 107 diseases and ten risk factors) and NASA satellite observations of atmospheric particulate pollution and atmospheric chemistry.

The majority (52%) of this observed mortality is related to cardiometabolic diseases, especially ischemic heart disease (30%). Stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease both account for 16% of the mortality burden.

“There is growing evidence that air pollution causes systematic inflammation and oxidative stress, which leads to deterioration in cardiovascular and respiratory health, and has adverse effects on the nervous system, metabolism, and mental and reproductive health,” the article reads.

Scientists say that a large proportion of the deaths would be avoidable, as they are linked to emissions from human activities such as industries, energy production and transport.

The study concludes that phasing out fossil fuels is an effective method to improve health and save lives, as part of the United Nations’ goal to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

The publication of the article coincided with COP28, warning of the need for an agreement between governments to abandon fossil fuels and accelerate investment in clean and renewable energies.