15 March 2016: Environmental risk factors, such as air, water and soil pollution, chemical exposures, climate change, and ultraviolet radiation contribute to more than 100 types of diseases and injuries, amounting to 12.6 million people dying each year as a result of living or working in an unhealthy environment, according to a global assessment undertaken by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The second edition of the report, titled ‘Preventing Disease through Healthy Environments: A Global Assessment of the Burden of Disease from Environmental Risks,’ reveals that since it was first published a decade ago, deaths due to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), mostly attributable to air pollution, including exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke, amount to as much as 8.2 million of these deaths, nearly two-thirds of the total deaths caused by unhealthy environments. At the same time, deaths from infectious diseases, such as diarrhea and malaria, often related to poor water, sanitation and waste management have declined. Increases in access to safe water and sanitation have been key contributors to this trend, alongside better access to immunizations, insecticide-treated mosquito nets and essential medicines.

Looking across more than 100 disease and injury categories, the report finds that the vast majority of environment-related deaths are due to cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke and ischemic heart disease. Regionally, the report finds that low- and middle-income countries in the WHO South-East Asia and Western Pacific Regions had the largest environment-related disease burdens in 2012. Low- and middle-income countries bear the greatest environmental burden in all types of diseases and injuries, however for certain NCDs, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancers, the per capita disease burden can also be relatively high in high-income countries.

The main message emerging from the assessment is that premature death and disease can be prevented through healthier environments. The report emphasizes cost-effective measures and proven strategies that countries can take to improve the environment and prevent sickness. These include reducing the use of solid fuels for cooking, heating and lighting and increasing access to low-carbon energy technologies; adopting tobacco smoke-free legislation; improving urban transit and urban planning, and building energy-efficient housing; promoting safe physical activity; and increasing access to safe water and adequate sanitation.

“A healthy environment underpins a healthy population,” says Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General. “If countries do not take actions to make environments where people live and work healthy, millions will continue to become ill and die too young.” [WHO Press Release] [UN Press Release] [Publication: Preventing Disease through Healthy Environments: A Global Assessment of the Burden of Disease from Environmental Risks]