Signal Environmental pollution is estimated to cause about 9 million premature deaths a year

Summary

The pollution-and-health overview states that premature deaths attributable to environmental pollution are estimated at about 9 million each year. It sets this figure beside mounting costs from compound events, including medical spending, lost productivity, repairs to industrial facilities and insurance risk. The survey explains that climate-driven extremes raise pollutant concentrations and human exposure through air, water and soil at the same time. It adds that the burden falls disproportionately on children, older people, people with chronic conditions and outdoor workers. The mortality estimate underpins the case for moving from single-substance rules toward regulation that considers mixtures, cumulative exposure and vulnerable groups.