Fossil fuel air pollution responsible for one in five deaths worldwide.

[2greys]

An estimated 1 in 5 deaths (18 to 21.5%) every year can be attributed to fossil fuel pollution, a figure much higher than previously thought, according to research co-authored by UCL.

The study shows that more than 8 million people around the globe die each year as a result of breathing in air containing particles from burning fuels like coal, petrol and diesel, which aggravate respiratory conditions like asthma and can lead to lung cancer, coronary heart disease, strokes and early death.

The research, led by Harvard University in collaboration with UCL, the University of Birmingham and the University of Leicester has been published in the journal Environment Research.

ucl.ac.uk/news/2021/feb/fos...

[HungryHufflepuff]

That’s quite a shocking find.

[Badbessie]

I come from a coal mining area. Thirty years ago you could not hang washing out in some areas due to the amount of coal dust in the air. Obviously my area had a very high incidence of childhood asthma. The mines closed and there was an immediate improvement sadly it was not as good as expected. Sadly the dust from the two massive granite quarries appears to play a role in the lung health in my area.

[Izb1]

I clicked on your post from 12 months ago 2greys and they said the government were banning burning fossil fuels, I dont think there has been much headway on that score , is there a petition that we can sign ? x

[2greys in reply to Izb1]

It got as far as being a Bill only. I think Coronavirus got in the way of it getting passed as an act and into law.

gov.uk/government/news/gove...

[deejames in reply to Izb1]

There will not be much improvement in air quality until we all stop driving petrol and diesel cars. I am particulary upset by cars sitting parked running their engines with the exhaust spilling out fumes.

[Izb1 in reply to deejames]

I thought cars were now made to cut out when stopped to halt this problem.I stopped driving years ago but doubt many people would willingly give up their cars, getting about without one is hard work and takes alot of time from your day. The way forward is to make public transport easier and make electric cars cheaper so that we can all afford to have one x