Helena Joyce
Pollution is one of the most pressing environmental and health issues worldwide. Over the last 100 years, the world has witnessed a significant increase in pollution, particularly in the form of air pollution, which has emerged as a leading risk factor for deaths globally. The annual rate of increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide over the past 60 years is about 100 times faster than previous natural increases, with the last decade experiencing an accelerated annual increase of 2.6 ppm per year. This has resulted in a rise in global average atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, with a record high of 422.8 parts per million in 2024. The consequences of this heightened pollution are dire, with approximately 9 million deaths attributed to pollution annually, making it the leading environmental cause of premature mortality.
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What You'll Learn
- Air pollution is the world's largest environmental risk factor for disease and premature death
- Carbon dioxide levels have increased 100-200 times faster than at the end of the last ice age
- The US has seen a 5.5% increase in fine particulate pollution between 2016 and 2018
- Pollution-related deaths have increased by 66% since 2000, driven by industrialisation
- Despite improvements, 140 million Americans lived in counties with pollution above NAAQS in 2023
Air pollution is the world's largest environmental risk factor for disease and premature death
Air pollution is a combination of outdoor and indoor particulate matter and ozone. It is a major threat to global health and prosperity and is the world's largest environmental risk factor for disease and premature death. In 2021, air pollution was the cause of 8.1 million deaths globally, making it the second-highest risk factor for death. This number has increased over the past two decades.
Air pollution has a large impact on the quality of life of those who are exposed to it. It is a health and environmental issue across all countries of the world, with a greater burden on low- and middle-income countries. This is due to the high indoor pollution rates in low-income countries, where solid fuels are relied on for cooking, and the increase in outdoor pollution as countries industrialize and shift from low to middle incomes. In 2019, 89% of premature deaths due to outdoor air pollution occurred in low- and middle-income countries.
Air pollution is responsible for a range of diseases and health issues. 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). In young children, exposure to air pollution is linked to pneumonia, asthma, and lung diseases. It is also associated with oxidative stress and inflammation in human cells, which may lay the foundation for chronic diseases and cancer.
In recent years, there has been a focus on reducing air pollution levels and protecting populations from health risks. For example, the World Health Organization (WHO) supports countries by providing evidence, building institutional capacity, and leveraging the health argument to tackle air pollution. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has acted to improve air quality by designing and developing national programs that will achieve significant reductions in air emissions. Despite these efforts, approximately 140 million people in the United States lived in counties with pollution levels above the primary NAAQS in 2023.
While there has been progress in reducing air pollution and improving air quality, it continues to be a significant issue. Air pollution is a mix of hazardous substances from both human-made and natural sources. Human-made sources include vehicle emissions, fuel oils, and fumes from chemical production, while natural sources include smoke from wildfires and gases from volcanic eruptions. The impact of air pollution on health and the environment underscores the importance of continued efforts to address this global issue.
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Carbon dioxide levels have increased 100-200 times faster than at the end of the last ice age
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that absorbs and radiates heat. It is essential for keeping the Earth's temperature above freezing. However, the increase in carbon dioxide levels, driven by human activities, is causing the Earth's temperature to rise.
The current carbon dioxide levels are unprecedented. Data from ice cores suggests that carbon dioxide levels never exceeded 300 parts per million (ppm) in the past 800,000 years. In 1958, when observations began at Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, carbon dioxide levels were already at 315 ppm. In 2024, global average carbon dioxide levels reached a new record high of 422.8 ppm.
The rate of increase in carbon dioxide levels is also alarming. In the last 60 years, carbon dioxide levels have increased 100-200 times faster than at the end of the last ice age. The last ice age occurred between 120,000 and 11,500 years ago, and carbon dioxide levels rose as the Earth transitioned to the current interglacial period. The annual rate of increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide has accelerated in recent decades, reaching 2.6 ppm per year between 2015 and 2024.
The primary source of the additional carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is the burning of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are the remains of millions of years of carbon uptake by plants and contain enough carbon to produce the observed increase in carbon dioxide levels. The carbon in the atmosphere from fossil fuels has a distinct isotopic fingerprint, with depleted carbon-13 and no detectable carbon-14.
The increase in carbon dioxide levels has significant implications for the Earth's climate. Carbon dioxide acts as a control knob for the Earth's climate, influencing global temperatures. The current rate and magnitude of increase in carbon dioxide levels are unprecedented in the past million years and pose significant risks to the planet's climate and ecosystems.
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The US has seen a 5.5% increase in fine particulate pollution between 2016 and 2018
Air pollution is a combination of outdoor and indoor particulate matter and ozone. It is a significant health and environmental issue worldwide, with varying severity across different countries. While air quality in the US has improved over the last few decades, recent studies show a concerning reversal of this trend.
According to an analysis of Environmental Protection Agency data by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, there was a 5.5% increase in fine particulate pollution across the country between 2016 and 2018. This increase in pollution levels is significant because it follows a period of decline, with a nearly 25% reduction in fine particulate pollution over the previous seven years.
Fine particulate pollution, known as PM2.5, refers to particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers, which is minuscule compared to the human hair's width. These particles can cause serious health issues, including asthma, respiratory inflammation, lung cancer, heart attacks, and strokes. The increase in PM2.5 levels between 2016 and 2018 was associated with an estimated 10,000 additional premature deaths, highlighting the severe impact of air pollution on public health.
Several factors contributed to the rise in fine particulate pollution during this period. Researchers identified increases in driving and the burning of natural gas as likely contributors. Additionally, the decrease in coal use and related pollution during this time does not seem to have been enough to offset these other sources of pollution. In the Western US, wildfires also played a role in increasing particulate matter in the air.
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Pollution-related deaths have increased by 66% since 2000, driven by industrialisation
Pollution is a major global threat to health and prosperity, and it is the world's largest environmental risk factor for disease and premature death. According to the World Economic Forum, pollution accounts for one in six deaths worldwide, or about 9 million premature deaths per year. This figure has remained relatively consistent since 2015, with an update in 2019 confirming that pollution continues to be responsible for approximately 9 million deaths annually.
While there has been a reduction in some pollution-related deaths, such as those associated with household pollution and water quality, pollution-related deaths have increased by 66% since 2000, driven by industrialization, uncontrolled urbanization, population growth, fossil fuel combustion, and the absence of adequate national or international chemical policies. The increase in deaths attributable to industrialization and urbanization has been even more pronounced, rising by 7% since 2015 and 66% since 2000.
The impact of industrialization on pollution-related deaths is evident in the shift from indoor to outdoor air pollution as countries industrialize and move from low to middle-income status. Outdoor air pollution is now a significant contributor to pollution-related deaths, with ambient air pollution and toxic chemical pollution becoming more prevalent. Sources of outdoor air pollution include residential energy for cooking and heating, vehicles, power generation, agriculture/waste incineration, and industry. Industrial facilities, in particular, are common sources of outdoor air pollution, releasing pollutants such as particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide into the air.
The health impacts of outdoor air pollution are significant, as it is a risk factor for many leading causes of death, including heart disease, stroke, lower respiratory infections, lung cancer, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The burden of outdoor air pollution tends to be greater in low and middle-income countries, as industrialization and economic development lead to increased outdoor air pollution levels. Additionally, indoor pollution rates tend to be high in low-income countries due to a reliance on solid fuels for cooking.
The increase in pollution-related deaths due to industrialization highlights the need for policies and interventions to mitigate the impact of industrialization on the environment and human health. Initiatives such as the Practical Guide For Business Air Pollutant Emission Assessment enable companies to quantify their air pollutant emissions and develop strategies to reduce their impact on air pollution. Additionally, policies that support sustainable land use, cleaner household energy, improved waste management, and energy-efficient housing can effectively reduce ambient air pollution and mitigate the health risks associated with industrialization.
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Despite improvements, 140 million Americans lived in counties with pollution above NAAQS in 2023
Air pollution is one of the most pressing health and environmental issues worldwide. It comprises indoor and outdoor air pollution, with the former being more prevalent in low-income countries due to the use of solid fuels for cooking, and the latter tending to increase as countries industrialize and transition to middle-income status.
Outdoor air pollution, in particular, is a significant concern in the United States, where approximately 140 million Americans lived in counties with failing grades for daily spikes in particle pollution in 2023. This issue is addressed in the "State of the Air" report, which found that metropolitan areas like Bakersfield, California, and Los Angeles persistently rank highly in terms of short-term and year-round particle pollution, as well as ozone pollution. The report also highlights the disproportionate impact of air pollution on communities of color, who are more vulnerable due to higher rates of chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease.
While there have been improvements in air quality over the past century, with emissions from transportation, power plants, and manufacturing decreasing over time, the rate of increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide over the past 60 years is concerning. It has increased about 100 times faster than previous natural increases, with the annual increase in the last decade (2015-2024) accelerating to 2.6 parts per million (ppm) per year. This has led to an increase in global average atmospheric carbon dioxide, which reached a record high of 422.8 ppm in 2024, according to NOAA's Global Monitoring Lab.
The Clean Air Act plays a crucial role in addressing air pollution in the United States. It mandates the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six principal pollutants, termed "criteria pollutants," that are harmful to public health and the environment. These standards are periodically reviewed to ensure their effectiveness in protecting public health and welfare. Despite these efforts, the "State of the Air" report for 2025 reveals that nearly half of Americans (approximately 156.1 million people) reside in areas with failing grades for unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution. This issue is exacerbated by extreme heat, drought, and wildfires, which expose a growing number of people to air pollution and its associated health risks.
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Frequently asked questions
While I don't have data for the past 100 years, I can provide information on pollution increases in more recent times. In the US, emissions of the six principal air pollutants dropped by 78% between 1970 and 2023. However, in 2023, about 66 million tons of pollution were emitted into the US atmosphere. In 2015, pollution was responsible for 9 million premature deaths worldwide, and this number has not changed since. Deaths caused by modern forms of pollution have increased by 66% in the past 20 years.
Low and middle-income countries bear the brunt of air pollution. In recent years, air pollution has contributed to one in ten deaths globally. More than 90% of pollution-related deaths occur in low and middle-income countries.
Air pollution 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). Fine particulate pollution, or PM2.5, has been linked to asthma, respiratory inflammation, lung cancer, heart attacks, and strokes.
