Pollution around the globe now contributes to an estimated 9 million deaths annually – or roughly one in six – according to an in-depth new study published Thursday in the Lancet. The result: An estimated 6.5 million deaths in 2015 from heart disease, strokes, lung cancer and other respiratory problems. Water pollution, which includes everything from unsafe sanitation to contaminated drinking water, accounted for an additional 1.8 million annual deaths from gastrointestinal diseases and other infections, researchers found. In 2015, the largest number of deaths attributable to pollution occurred in India and China, with an estimated 2.5 million and 1.8 million deaths respectively. Beyond the massive human toll, the authors of Thursday’s report also focused on the financial toll caused by pollution-related health problems.

Source: National Post October 20, 2017 15:22 UTC