Air quality, water quality and health

What is air pollution?

A health hazard in countries across the development continuum.

What does air pollution cause?

Cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses.

WHO estimates that 80% of air pollution deaths are related to heart disease and strokes, 14% to respiratory infections and 6% to lung cancer.

Where are most air pollution deaths concentrated?

88% of air pollution deaths are in developing countries, especially in Southeast Asia.

What causes air pollution in low-income countries?

Fuelwood is used for cooking and heating, exposing households to respiratory infections, lung cancer and cardiovascular disease.

What can be said about most air pollution?

Most is beyond the control of individuals and must be addressed by decision makers at all scales, from governments to local authorities.

What impact does poor water quality have on people worldwide?

Inadequate drinking water and poor sanitation and hygiene cause 829,000 diarrhoeal disease deaths per year.

What has been the result of parasitic worms in water?

Parasitic worms in infested water lead to an estimated 240 million cases of schistosomiasis.

Malaria has water-related vectors.

What is one of the main pollutants of water?

Human sewage.

Water Aid estimates that 800 million people live without safe drinking water. Sustainable Development Goal number 6 relates to safe drinking water and sanitation for all.

What else can contaminate water quality?

• Environmental disasters such as oil leakage in the Nile Delta also contaminate water supplies.

• In Lancashire in the summer of 2015, 300,000 people had to boil water for a month due to a water-borne bug which causes sickness and diarrhoea, costing United Utilities $25 million in compensation.