Report confirms deadly impact of air pollution, brings new data on dementia

Air pollution remains the leading environmental risk factor for death around the world, contributing to 7.9 million deaths in 2023, with the largest health impacts seen in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where people have higher exposure and more limited access to healthcare and other services, confirms the sixth edition of the State of Global Air (SoGA) report released today. The State of Global Air report was released by the Health Effects Institute (HEI) in collaboration with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation and the NCD Alliance.

Of all air pollution deaths in 2023, 6.8 million of them (86%) were from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) like chronic respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. Between 2000 and 2023, global NCD deaths due to air pollution increased from 5.99 million to 6.8 million, nearly a million more deaths, or 110 additional deaths every single day, an increase of 13%. Half of all chronic respiratory deaths are attributable to air pollution, as are one in four deaths from heart disease.

This year, for the first time, the SoGA report includes information about the effects of air pollution on people living with dementia. In 2023, dementia related to air pollution resulted in more than 625,000 deaths around the world and nearly 12 million healthy years of life lost. This burden has ripple effects across households and society, particularly for women who are more likely to provide care for family members living with dementia and are more likely to develop dementia themselves. To discuss the report along with potential use of its data, join the global webinar organised by HEI on 31 October at 13:00 CET.

In 2018, the third United Nations High-Level Meeting (HLM) on Noncommunicable Diseases added air pollution as one of the most important risk factors for NCDs, together with tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity. A year later, the World Health Assembly also included air pollution as a risk factor in its NCD framework. This year, in the Political Declaration of the fourth HLM on NCDs and Mental Health, all governments have made specific commitments to reduce this dangerous risk factor. Now commitments must transform into action to reduce air pollution and its far-reaching negative impacts.

While every country in the world would benefit from air pollution reductions, LMICs would see the greatest impact. In all countries, children, older populations, and people with pre-existing health conditions would benefit most, as these groups are particularly vulnerable to health harm from air pollution. Along with health and NCDs, air pollution is intertwined with other global urgencies like the climate crisis and unsustainable food systems. Policies to reduce air pollution also have benefits for these and other priorities. Countries must accelerate the implementation of these ‘win-win’ policies for the health and wellbeing of people and our planet.