Brian Barton
Air pollution is a major environmental health problem affecting people in low-, middle-, and high-income countries. It is one of the leading risk factors for death and is responsible for 6.7 million premature deaths annually. In 2020, an analysis of air pollution during the lockdown revealed that despite a significant decrease in traffic, air pollution did not decrease as much as expected. However, certain clean air measures have proven effective in improving air quality and reducing health risks. For instance, the Clean Air Act in the United States has successfully driven pollution reduction for over 50 years, and emissions of common air pollutants have decreased substantially since 1980.
What You'll Learn
Air pollution is the leading cause of death and disease globally
Air pollution is a combination of outdoor and indoor particulate matter and ozone. It is a risk factor for many of the leading causes of death, including heart disease, stroke, lower respiratory infections, lung cancer, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost the entire global population (99%) breathes air that exceeds the recommended limits and contains high levels of pollutants. This has led to air pollution being the leading cause of death and disease globally.
In 2015, the Lancet Commission on pollution and health reported that pollution was responsible for 9 million premature deaths worldwide, making it the largest environmental risk factor for premature death. Air pollution (both household and ambient) was responsible for the greatest number of these deaths, causing 6.7 million deaths in 2019. In 2021, air pollution resulted in 8.1 million deaths and millions of healthy years of life lost worldwide, according to the State of Global Air 2024 report. This makes air pollution the single largest environmental health risk factor with significant public health, societal, and economic implications.
The impact of air pollution goes beyond early death, as it is also one of the main contributors to the global disease burden. The global disease burden takes into account not only years of life lost to early death but also the number of years lived in poor health. Air pollution is a significant risk factor for poor health across the world, affecting both the length and quality of people's lives. It is estimated that 2.4 billion people are exposed to dangerous levels of household air pollution, while 140 million people in the United States lived in counties with pollution levels above the primary NAAQS in 2023.
While there has been a decline in death rates from indoor air pollution, improvements in outdoor pollution have been more modest. The sources of outdoor air pollution include residential energy for cooking and heating, vehicles, power generation, agriculture/waste incineration, and industry. Climate change is also contributing to worsening air quality by increasing the frequency of extreme heat, drought, and wildfires, which release particulate matter and ozone into the atmosphere. These factors pose significant challenges to maintaining and improving air quality.
To address air pollution and mitigate its health risks, various policies and investments can be implemented to support sustainable land use, cleaner household energy and transport, energy-efficient housing, improved power generation, and better municipal waste management. Additionally, organizations like the WHO and the Clean Air Fund provide technical support, guidance, and awareness initiatives to help reduce the impact of air pollution on global health.
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The Clean Air Act has improved air quality over the last 50 years
The Clean Air Act, enacted 50 years ago, has been instrumental in improving air quality across the United States. Before the Act, American cities were filled with toxic smog from unregulated industrialization and a growing dependence on cars. The Clean Air Act gives the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to regulate air pollutants and polluting industries, and it has successfully reduced pollution and improved air quality over the past five decades.
The Clean Air Act established the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), setting maximum allowable concentrations of particulate matter and other pollutants. It also created emissions standards for pollution sources, leading industrial facilities to adopt pollution control technologies and automakers to produce cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles. These measures have significantly reduced common pollutants such as particles, ozone, lead, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. Between 1970 and 2020, emissions of these six common pollutants dropped by 78%.
The Clean Air Act has also had a positive impact on public health. According to the EPA, the Act prevented over 230,000 early deaths by 2020 and reduced the frequency of respiratory diseases such as chronic bronchitis and asthma exacerbation. Reductions in particulate air pollution alone have added up to 1.5 years to the life expectancy of Americans since 1970. The Act has also provided economic benefits, with reduced medical bills and increased worker productivity contributing to an estimated $2 trillion in benefits.
While the Clean Air Act has led to substantial improvements in air quality, recent data shows an increase in harmful pollutants in the atmosphere. Despite the overall reduction in pollution, the United States remains a leading country for premature pollution-related deaths. There are also ongoing concerns about CO2 emissions, which have increased by 2.9% between 1990 and 2017. These challenges highlight the need for continued efforts to mitigate air pollution and protect public health and the environment.
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Climate change is making it harder to maintain air quality
Air pollution is a significant health and environmental issue worldwide, and climate change is making it harder to maintain air quality. While progress has been made in reducing certain types of air pollution, the changing climate poses new challenges.
Climate change is causing an increase in ground-level ozone, a harmful air pollutant, in many regions. Warmer temperatures and more sunny days associated with climate change contribute to higher levels of ground-level ozone. This, in turn, acts as a greenhouse gas, trapping heat in the atmosphere and further contributing to climate warming. The impact of climate change on particulate matter, another type of air pollutant, is less certain, but it is known that dust from droughts and smoke from wildfires can increase particulate matter and negatively affect air quality.
The effects of climate change on air quality vary by region. In the United States, for example, climate-driven changes in weather conditions, including temperature and precipitation, are expected to increase ground-level ozone and particulate matter. Wildfires, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change, release smoke that spreads dangerous particle pollution. Extreme heat, drought, and wildfires are contributing to worsening air pollution across the United States, exposing a growing number of people to harmful ozone and particle pollution.
Indoor air quality is also impacted by climate change. Climate change-related precipitation and storms can increase indoor pollutants such as mold, dust mites, and bacteria. Additionally, outdoor air pollution can infiltrate indoor spaces, posing risks to human health.
To address these challenges, regulatory initiatives, partnership programs, and individual actions are necessary to reduce air pollutants and mitigate their impacts on both human health and the climate. The Clean Air Act in the United States, for example, has successfully driven pollution reduction for over 50 years. However, climate change continues to create new obstacles in the effort to maintain and improve air quality.
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The EPA has acted to improve air quality in the US
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been committed to protecting public health and improving air quality since its formation in 1970. Over the last five decades, the EPA has taken several steps to reduce air pollution and improve the air quality in the US.
The Clean Air Act, passed in 1970, gave the EPA the legal authority to regulate pollution from cars and other forms of transportation. The EPA has set and implemented emissions standards to control pollution from passenger vehicles, heavy-duty trucks and buses, construction and farm equipment, locomotive and marine engines, and even lawn and garden equipment. These standards have led to the adoption of modern automotive technologies, such as computers, fuel injection, and on-board diagnostics, resulting in cleaner, higher-quality, more reliable, and durable cars.
The EPA has also implemented initiatives such as the National Clean Diesel Campaign, Clean School Bus USA, the SmartWay Transport Partnership, and the Clean Power Plan. The Clean Power Plan aims to reduce carbon pollution from existing power plants, the nation's largest source of carbon pollution, while maintaining energy reliability and affordability. The EPA has worked with state, local, and tribal governments, other federal agencies, and stakeholders to reduce air pollution and mitigate its damage.
The EPA's efforts have resulted in significant progress. Between 1970 and 2023, the US gross domestic product increased by 321%, vehicle miles traveled increased by 194%, energy consumption increased by 42%, and the population grew. Despite this growth, total emissions of the six principal air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NOx, VOCs, CO, and Pb) dropped by 77-78% during the same period. The EPA's actions have improved air quality, extended life expectancy, prevented asthma attacks, and reduced asthma rates.
However, challenges remain, as climate change complicates the fight against air pollution. Additionally, in 2023, approximately 66 million tons of pollution were emitted into the US atmosphere, and around 140 million people lived in counties with pollution levels above the primary NAAQS. The EPA continues to address these complex air quality issues, working with partners at the state, tribal, and local levels to protect public health and the environment.
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Air pollution is bad for business and the economy
Air pollution has a detrimental impact on businesses and the economy. It is a leading risk factor for death and disease, with far-reaching consequences for economies worldwide. The health issues caused by air pollution result in reduced workforce productivity, staff absences, and premature deaths, all of which have significant economic costs.
The World Bank estimates that the health damage inflicted by air pollution costs a staggering $6 trillion annually, equivalent to a 5% reduction in global GDP. This includes losses in productivity, life expectancy, and economic activity. By 2060, the number of workdays lost globally due to air pollution is projected to reach 3.8 billion, up from 1.2 billion currently. This underlines the urgency of addressing air pollution to mitigate its economic fallout.
Businesses across all sectors and sizes contribute to air pollution through their supply chains, office buildings, transportation, manufacturing, and other operations. However, they also stand to gain from improving air quality. For instance, in the United States, the Clean Air Act has fostered progress in reducing air pollution, leading to better health outcomes and a stronger economy. Similarly, in the EU, addressing air pollution has resulted in economic gains of €50-60 billion annually since 2014.
The business case for clean air is compelling. By taking action to reduce their air pollution footprint, companies can enhance their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance, attract and retain talent, and improve consumer loyalty and brand value. Leading companies like Google, Siemens, and IKEA have already joined global initiatives like the Alliance for Clean Air, recognizing the importance of clean air for their operations and the economy at large.
Furthermore, air pollution control and environmental technology present significant market opportunities. In the US, the environmental technology industry is sizable and growing, with approximately 114,000 companies engaged in this sector. The global market for environmental goods and services is estimated at $1.12 trillion, presenting a substantial economic prospect for businesses to tap into.
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Frequently asked questions
During the lockdown, traffic was significantly reduced, and headlines celebrated the clean air across the U.S. However, according to an analysis by NPR, ozone levels were only down by 14% in late March and April compared to the same period over the previous five years. This points to the fact that cars are not the biggest contributors to air pollution. Instead, heavy-duty transportation, such as trucks and buses, are now the largest source of nitrogen oxides, which form ozone.
Since 1980, emissions of the common air pollutants and their precursors have been reduced substantially. Specifically, airborne lead concentrations in the U.S. decreased by 98% between 1980 and 2005. After 2005, the methodology for measuring lead changed and is no longer comparable to the previous numbers. Since 2008, emissions have continued to decrease by 30% from 2008 to 2017.
While there have been improvements in air quality, air pollution remains one of the world's largest health and environmental problems. According to the WHO, 99% of the world's population was living in places where air quality guidelines were not met in 2019. Additionally, ambient air pollution was estimated to have caused 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide in 2019, with 89% of those deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
