WHO Over 12 million people died from environmental pollutions in 2012

These deaths have been linked to several environmental pollutions, which includes, air, water and soil pollution, chemical exposures, climate change, and ultraviolet radiation.

In 2012, 12.6 million people died from living or working in an unhealthy environment’

In a recent report titled, ‘Preventing disease through healthy environments: a global assessment of the burden of disease from environmental risk’ by the World Health Organisation, over 12 million people have died from living in unhealthy areas.

These deaths have been linked to several environmental pollutions, which includes, air, water and soil pollution, chemical exposures, climate change, and ultraviolet radiation.

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A resident living in a flooded area refills plastic containers with drinking water on an improvised "banca" (small boat) in Artex compound, Malabon city, north of Manila, Philippines March, 2016. Some 650 million people, or one in 10 of the world's population, have no access to safe water, putting them at risk of infectious diseases and premature death. Dirty water and poor sanitation can cause severe diarrhoeal diseases in children, killing 900 under-five a day across the world, according to UN

 

Commenting on the report, Margaret Chan, WHO’s Director General stated that a healthy environment underpins a healthy population.

Chan said that all countries should work towards a healthy environment for its populations, to decrease the death rate of young ones. Further emphasising that disease such as diarrhoea and malaria are related to poor water, sanitation and waste management.

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WHO promotes water, sanitation to battle neglected tropical diseases

 (Indiatimes)

Stating cost effective measures to curtail environmental related disease and death, Chan stated that countries should avoid using solid fuels for cooking and the government should grant access to low-carbon energy technologies

“The report emphasises cost-effective measures that countries can take to reverse the upward trend of environment-related disease and deaths.

“These include reducing the use of solid fuels for cooking and increasing access to low-carbon energy technologies,’’ she said.

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Sanitation exercise in lagos

 (GTB News)

Clan listed immunisation, insecticide-treated mosquito nets, essential medicines, access to safe water and sanitation as major contributors to curbing environment related diseases.