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Air pollution has killed nearly 4 million people
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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In Geneva, the World Health Organization announced the results of one of the studies, which showed that almost half of city residents suffer from air pollution. According to experts, urban air pollution exceeds the norm by at least two times.
Previously, the World Health Organization made a report stating that more than three million people die annually as a result of alcohol addiction. However, this time, the organization was interested in another issue, namely the impact of polluted air on the health and life expectancy of city dwellers.
As it turns out, the larger the city, the greater the danger it poses to the health of its residents. Pollution that gets into the air increases the risk of developing many serious diseases, such as chronic respiratory diseases (asthma), cardiovascular diseases (stroke), and cancer.
Cars are the main sources of air pollution. Air pollution is also greatly affected by a large concentration of residential buildings in a small area, industrial development, and increased use of energy. According to the World Health Organization, last year polluted air caused the death of more than four million people. As recent studies show, the highest air pollution is in countries such as India, Bahrain, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. In these republics, the average annual concentration of particles reaches 540 mg per 1 m 3, while according to recommendations of the health organization, the concentration should not exceed 20 mg per 1 m 3.
The Pakistani city of Peshawar, home to over three million people, ranks first in terms of air pollution. The Pakistani city of Rawalpindi also ranks second, with over 400 mg of pollution per cubic meter . Third place goes to the Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif, with pollution reaching just over 300 mg per cubic meter.
In Ukraine, the most polluted cities are located in the central and eastern parts of the country. The cities of Donetsk Oblast have the highest air pollution, which is due to the large number of industrial enterprises located in this area.
Cities in Australia, Canada, and the USA are recognized as having the cleanest levels of air pollution.
In addition, the World Health Organization made a report stating that 14 million people are diagnosed with cancer every year. However, the forecasts made for the future do not inspire hope for improvement. According to forecasts, over the next 20 years, the incidence of oncological processes will increase to 22 million people per year. In this regard, it is necessary to introduce effective strategies for cancer prevention as soon as possible.
As experts note, in modern conditions, oncology occupies a leading position in the world in terms of mortality. The most severe forms of cancer, according to doctors, are considered to be cancer of the stomach, breast, lungs, colon and rectum.
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