Clean Air Fund: Air pollution drives deaths from non-communicable diseases

Approximately 86% of deaths linked to air pollution are caused by non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, chronic lung conditions, diabetes, and dementia, said Cecilia Vaca Jones, Executive Director of the Clean Air Fund's Breathe Cities initiative, during the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Report informs.

She stressed that air pollution is one of the greatest global public health crises today: "Air pollution causes more premature deaths than tobacco smoking."

Vaca Jones noted that poor air quality is also the second leading cause of death among children under five, ranking just behind malnutrition.

She emphasized that air quality must be seen not only as an environmental issue but as a matter of longevity, disease prevention, and protection of vulnerable populations: "When we reduce air pollution, we automatically prevent asthma attacks, strokes, heart attacks, hospitalizations, and premature deaths worldwide."