Pollution causing more deaths than war, disease, drugs combined; study

Air pollution alone is linked to over seven million premature deaths per year, with more than half due to heart problems. [iStockphoto]

We often think of war, terrorism, and deadly diseases as the greatest dangers to human life. But what if the real danger is something we encounter every day, something that’s in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and even in the noise that surrounds us? 

A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology reveals a shocking truth: pollution, in all its forms, is now a greater global health threat than war, terrorism, malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, drugs, and alcohol combined.

Specifically, researchers estimate that man-made pollutants and climate change contribute to a staggering seven million deaths globally each year.

“Every year around 20 million people worldwide die from cardiovascular disease with pollutants playing an ever-increasing role,” explains Professor Jason Kovacic, Director and CEO of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute in Australia, in a media release.

The culprits behind this global death toll aren’t just the obvious ones like air pollution from car exhausts or factory chimneys.

The study, conducted by researchers from prestigious institutions globally, shines a light on lesser-known villains: noise pollution, soil pollution, light pollution, and even exposure to toxic chemicals in our homes.

Every day, people wake up after a night’s sleep disrupted by the glow of streetlights and the hum of late-night traffic. On the way to work, they’re exposed to car fumes and the blaring horns of impatient drivers.

At home, they unknowingly use products containing untested chemicals. All these factors, the study suggests, are chipping away at people’s heart health.

“Pollutants have reached every corner of the globe and are affecting every one of us,” Prof Kovacic says.

“We are witnessing unprecedented wildfires, long-term droughts, soaring temperatures, floods, unacceptable road noise and light pollution in our cities and exposure to untested toxic chemicals in our homes,” he says.

How do these pollutants harm our hearts? According to Dr Dave Ojijo, a medical doctor and Chair Planetary Health Committee, when you inhale smoke from a wildfire or exhaust fumes, these toxins travel deep into the lungs, enter the bloodstream, and then circulate throughout the body.

“It’s like sending tiny invaders into the body’s system, causing damage wherever they go, including in the heart,” he says.

Noise and Light Pollution do more than just annoy. “They mess up your sleep patterns. Poor sleep can lead to inflammation in the body, raise blood pressure, and cause weight gain. “All of these are risk factors for heart disease,” says Ojijo.

Extreme Heat causes the body’s “engine” to work harder to keep cool. “During a heatwave, the heart works overtime. This extra strain, coupled with dehydration and reduced blood volume from sweating, can lead to serious issues like acute kidney failure,” says Ojijo.

Chemical exposure from many household items — from non-stick pans to water-resistant clothing — contain chemicals that haven’t been thoroughly tested for safety.

Prof Kovacic points out, “There are hundreds of thousands of chemicals that haven’t even been tested for their safety or toxicity, let alone their impact on our health.”

The statistics are alarming. Air pollution alone is linked to over seven million premature deaths per year, with more than half due to heart problems.

Dr Ojijo proposed several solutions including making heart-healthy cities. “Planting more trees, safer bike lanes, and fewer cars to make our urban areas better for our hearts. There’s a need for heightened public awareness campaigns to educate people about the dangers of pollution, much like we’ve done with smoking.

“We also need to amp up testing for chemical testing such as lead exposure in our patients to deal with exact causes,” says Ojijo.