Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 9
By Emil Ilgar – Trend:
World Bank says that premature deaths due to air pollution in 2013 cost the global economy about $225 billion in lost labor income, or about $5.11 trillion in welfare losses worldwide.
Iran’s lose equals to about 2.48 present of its GDP or $30.6 billion based on 2011 US dollar purchasing power parity-adjusted.
Total deaths caused by pollution in Iran also reached 21,680 in 2013 compared to 17,035 in 1990, the report said.
World Bank says “air pollution is recognized today as a major health risk.” According to the latest available estimates, in 2013, 5.5 million premature deaths worldwide, or one in every 10 total deaths, were attributable to air pollution.
“Air pollution has posed a significant health risk since the early 1990s, the earliest period for which global estimates of exposure and health effects are available. In 1990, as in 2013, air pollution was the fourth leading fatal health risk worldwide, resulting in 4.8 million premature deaths,” WB says.
The report added that air pollution is not just a problem in cities. More than 2.8 billion people around the world continue to burn solid fuels, such as wood, charcoal, coal and dung in their homes for cooking and heating.