1 In 4 Deaths Due To Environmental Factors, WHO Says

Media outlets discuss findings from a WHO report stating that an estimated 12.6 million people die each year due to unhealthy environmental conditions.

Agence France-Presse: Environment behind nearly quarter of global deaths: WHO
“One in four deaths worldwide are due to environmental factors like air, water, and soil pollution, as well as unsafe roads and workplace stress, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday…” (3/15).

The Guardian: Environmental risks killing 12.6 million people, WHO study says
“…It suggests environmental risks now contribute to more than 100 of the world’s most dangerous diseases, injuries, and kills 12.6 million people a year — nearly one in four or 23% of all deaths…” (Vidal, 3/15).

International Business Times: Unhealthy Environment Was A Factor In Nearly Quarter Of Global Deaths In 2012, WHO Says
“…Of these, two-thirds, or 8.2 million deaths, were from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) attributable to air pollution, such as strokes, cancers, and heart illnesses — a significant rise in the 10 years since the first edition of the report was published…” (Pandey, 3/15).

PressTV: 1 in 4 deaths worldwide in 2012 caused by environment-related factors: WHO
“…The deaths were caused by human-caused environmental risks such as pollution, chemical exposure, climate change, and ultraviolet radiation, among other factors…” (3/15).

TIME: How Your Surroundings Could Be Killing You
“…But, unlike many diseases, environmental health can be addressed with well-understood public policy interventions that include improved water treatment, clean energy policies, and reconfigured urban spaces. Indeed, the number of deaths related to communicable diseases has declined in the past decade thanks to these types of programs…” (Worland, 3/15).

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