1 in 6 deaths caused by pollution
-------------------------------------------
A report from Lancet Planetary Health journal says pollution kills as many people globally as smoking – around nine million per year. By comparison, Covid-19 has killed 6.7 million since 2020
-------------------------------------------
GLOBAL DEATHS ATTRIBUTED TO POLLUTION (millions) 

AIR 6.67
Household air: 2.31
Ambient particles: 4.14
Ambient ozone: 0.37

WATER 1.36
Unsafe sanitation: 0.76
Unsafe source: 1.23

WORKPLACE 0.87
Carcinogens: 0.35
Particulates: 0.52

66%
Increase in deaths since year 2000 from modern pollutants like heavy metals, agrochemicals and fossil fuels

Deaths per year, 2015-2019: 9 million

Note: Totals do not add up to sum of individual risk factors because some causes of death overlap 

-------------------------------------------
Sources: Reuters, Washington Post, Lancet Picture: Chris LeBoutillier (Unsplash) © GRAPHIC NEWS