Sustainable development goal indicator 3.9.1: mortality attributed to air pollution
Overview
In 2019, air pollution – both ambient and household – was the largest environmental risk to health, carrying responsibility for about one in every eight deaths annually, with 6.7 million deaths worldwide. Of these deaths, 83% are from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), making it urgent to ensure air pollution is fully integrated into the global agenda on NCDs.
This report presents a summary of the methods and results of the latest World Health Organization (WHO) burden of disease assessment due to air pollution from particulate matter (PM). These estimates were carried out through monitoring Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Indicator 3.9.1.
Reducing deaths and disease from air pollution is possible, but action needs to start now, in all sectors and settings, including energy, transport, land use, and involve regional and international cooperation. Leadership by the health sector is crucial, through engaging health care workers in understanding the impacts, advising patients and leading by example in health care facilities and daily life.
