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Air pollution identified as leading global killer

 Around seven million people died from the effects of air pollution in 2012, according to a report released by the World Health Organization this morning.

That’s one in eight deaths worldwide.

The WHO’s report identifies the link between air pollution and cancer, strokes and other cardiovascular diseases, calling air pollution “the world’s largest single environmental health risk.”

“Cleaning up the air we breathe prevents noncommunicable diseases as well as reduces disease risks among women and vulnerable groups, including children and the elderly,” said Dr. Flavia Bustreo, the WHO Assistant Director-General for Family, Women and Children’s Health.

Heart disease, stroke, COPD, lung cancer and acute lower respiratory infections in children were the most common deaths caused by outdoor air pollution. Indoor air pollution, such as pollution caused by in-home coal or wood stoves, caused twice as many childhood deaths.

While the report found the majority of air pollution-related deaths were in the low- and middle-income countries in the WHO’s Southeast Asia and Western Pacific regions, the United States is certainly not immune to the adverse effects of our air. Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified heart disease, cancer, lower respiratory diseases and strokes as the leading causes of premature death in the United States. In the same year, a study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology estimated the nation’s air pollution causes around 200,000 early deaths per year.

So how is the air in Washington? Don’t hold your breath.

While there are U.S. urban centers that dwarf the Seattle-Tacoma area, we still feel the effects of our transportation-related air pollution. The American Lung Association’s most recent “State of the Air” report gave Seattle, Tacoma and Olympia a combined “F” for short-term particle pollution. Short-term pollution refers to hourly or daily spikes in particle pollution—in other words, rush hour.

The ALA report also gave us a “C” Ozone grade and a passing grade for our annual particle pollution. You can read the full report and compare us to other cities here.