The same fossil fuels producing the greenhouse gases warming the
Earth’s atmosphere also form large quantities of air pollutants. The
pollutants most hazardous to health are small particles which can
penetrate deep into the lungs. These particles have diameters of no more
than 2.5 micrometers, so are called PM2.5. At least 800 of these
particles could fit end-to-end on the head of a pin. These fall out of
the air when it rains, so they persist in the atmosphere for a much
shorter time (just a few days) than CO₂.
In a study
we published earlier in 2021 in collaboration with researchers at
Harvard University, we estimated that exposure to air pollution from
using fossil fuels globally accounts for one in five premature deaths.
Our results suggest that at least 8.7 million early adult deaths could
have been avoided in a single year if countries had already abandoned
fossil fuels. This is equivalent to the population of Greater London.
Ditching fossil fuels will have immediate health benefits for millions – world leaders must seize the chance: The same fossil fuels producing the greenhouse gases warming the
Earth’s atmosphere also form large quantities of air pollutants. The
pollutants most hazardous to health are small particles which can
penetrate deep into the lungs. These particles have diameters of no more
than 2.5 micrometers, so are called PM2.5. At least 800 of these
particles could fit end-to-end on the head of a pin. These fall out of
the air when it rains, so they persist in the atmosphere for a much
shorter time (just a few days) than CO₂. In a study
we published earlier in 2021 in collaboration with researchers at
Harvard University, we estimated that exposure to air pollution from
using fossil fuels globally accounts for one in five premature deaths.
Our results suggest that at least 8.7 million early adult deaths could
have been avoided in a single year if countries had already abandoned
fossil fuels. This is equivalent to the population of Greater London.Read More