Cleaning Up the Environment Could Save 13 Million Lives Annually, Report Shows

Reducing environmental risks worldwide could save 13 million lives every year, according to the World Health Organization’s first country-by-country analysis of the impact environmental factors have on human health.

WHO analyzed health data from 192 countries, factoring in environmental risks related to such things as air and water pollution, agricultural practices, ecosystem changes, UV radiation, noise pollution, climate change, and workplace hazards.
The Worst and the Best Environments for Health
The worst affected countries include poverty-stricken nations such as Angola, Burkina Faso, Mali and Afghanistan. Iceland and Israel have the healthiest environments, according to WHO, followed by Italy, Germany, Spain, France, Britain, and the United States.

In 23 countries worldwide, more than 10 percent of deaths are due to just two environmental risk factors: unsafe water, including poor sanitation and hygiene; and indoor air pollution due to using solid fuels for cooking.
Around the world, children under five are the main victims and make up 74 percent of deaths due to diseases characterized by diarrhea and lower respiratory infections. In some countries, more than one third of the disease burden could be prevented through environmental improvements.
Environmental Risks Affect Health in All Countries
Low income countries suffer the most from environmental health factors, losing about 20 times more healthy years of life per person every year than high income countries, but the data also show that no country is immune from the environmental impact on health.
Even in countries with better environmental conditions, almost one sixth of the disease burden could be prevented, and efficient environmental interventions could significantly reduce conditions ranging from cardiovascular disease to road traffic injuries. For example, the data show that 398,000 deaths in the United States each year could be prevented if environmental risks were reduced, and making a healthier environment a priority could save 1.8 million lives annually in 53 countries around Europe.
"These country estimates are a first step towards assisting national decision-makers in the sectors of health and environment to set priorities for preventive action," said Susanne Weber-Mosdorf, WHO Assistant Director-General for Sustainable Development and Healthy Environments. She said that by quantifying the burden of disease from unhealthy environments, WHO hoped to help countries develop “appropriate interventions.”
Reducing Environmental Risks to Improve Health and Save Lives
Interventions at the community or national level might include promoting household water treatment and safe storage, reducing air pollution, and introducing energy policies that favor development and health.
The WHO analysis also includes information that can help individuals and families take direct action, with household interventions that could dramatically reduce environmental risks and lower the death rate. The data show that using better cooking devices and cleaner fuels, such as gas or electricity; improving ventilation; and keeping children away from smoke could greatly lower the risk of respiratory infections and other diseases among women and children.