Asia had the highest death toll, led by 49 million mortalities in China and 26.1 million in India.
The main killer is the PM2.5 pollutant – microparticles that come from haze, burning from power plants, and wildfires – that gets lodged deep into the lungs and enters the bloodstream.
Premature deaths refer to fatalities that occur earlier than expected, based on average life expectancy, due to preventable diseases and environmental factors. Of the natural climate phenomena, the Indian Ocean Dipole was found to have had the largest impact on the number of deaths, followed by the North Atlantic Oscillation, and then El Nino.
The researchers looked at historical Nasa satellite data to track the levels of PM2.5 in the atmosphere. They also analysed data on the incidence and mortality of diseases linked to pollution from the US-based Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. He said: “These populations are severely affected by this threat due to various factors such as higher exposure levels and limited access to healthcare facilities.”
“On the hospitals’ side, we should prepare for increased capacity. Of course this will not be easy because hospitals, particularly public hospitals, are always 110 per cent full,” said Prof Sung, who is also dean of LKCMedicine.
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