Air pollution takes 2 years off your life, more than smoking or alcohol

Smoke hangs over the Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge in San Francisco, California, U.S., on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020. Powerful, dry winds are sweeping across Northern California for a third day, driving up the risk of wildfires in a region thats been battered by heat waves, freak lightning storms and dangerously poor air quality from blazes.

According to a new report from the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, air pollution takes 2.2 years off the global lifespan for each person.

Reducing air pollution to meet international health guidelines would increase the global average life expectancy from 72 to 74.2 years, according to the air quality life index.

Life expectancy of air pollution compared with other more well-known causes of harm to human health, like smoking and terrorism.

The report states that firsthand cigarette smoke reduces life expectancy by 1.9 years. According to the report, alcohol and drug use reduces life expectancy by nine months on average, unsafe water and Sanitation reduces life expectancy by seven months, HIV and AIDS reduces life expectancy by four months, and Malaria reduces life expectancy by three months.

The estimate of the impact on human life expectancy of particulate pollution is based on research that allows it to show cause and effect. Christa Hasenkopf, the director of AQLI, told CNBC that the studies established a correlation between particulate matter exposure and mortality.

According to the report, air pollution is so dangerous that it's impossible to avoid it. Everyone must breathe air if they want to stop smoking or take precautions against diseases. Air pollution affects more people than any of the other conditions.

Fossil fuel combustion is the main cause of particulate matter air pollution, with 18% coming from natural sources and 22% coming from other human activities.

The air pollution in 2020 was measured by the University of Chicago's Michael Greenstone and his team.

Global pollution levels were reduced by a small amount. According to the report, the population's average particulate matter decreased from 27.7 to 27.5 over the course of the next two years.

Air pollution in South Asia increased in 2020 from the year before. Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal are some of the most polluted countries.

Air pollution is suspended in the air by its size. The deeper it gets into the body, the bigger it is. Particulate matter with a diameter of less than 10 micrometers can enter the lungs from the nose.

Smaller particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 micrometers is known as PM 2.5 and can get into the bloodstream by way of the lungs. It can cause strokes, heart attacks and other health issues.

More than 97% of the global population lives in areas where the air pollution exceeds the current recommended guidelines from the World Health Organization.

The World Health Organization said in 2005 that the acceptable levels of air pollution were less than 10. The guidelines for the World Health Organization were lowered in September.

Of the 7.4 billion people in the world, 97.3% live in places where the air quality doesn't meet the recommended limit for particulate matter.

The report states that particulate pollution is the greatest global health threat. There is an opportunity for progress. Air pollution is something that can be solved. Effective policies are required.

Buildings are shrouded in smog in Beijing, China, on February 26, 2014.

China has dramatically improved its air quality. After a year in which China had record levels of pollution, the then premier declared a "war against pollution." The government spent money to fight pollution and was able to reduce it.

China is still more polluted than the WHO recommends.

Air pollution and climate change are closely related. Fossil fuel emissions from power plants, vehicles, and other industrial sources are the main cause of both challenges. Policies that reduce dependence on fossil fuels can allow people to live longer and healthier lives and reduce the costs of climate change.

The American Medical Association voted on Monday to make climate change a public health crisis.

Our patients are already facing adverse health effects associated with climate change, from heat-related injuries, to vector-borne diseases, to worsening seasonal allergies and storm-related illness and injuries. The climate crisis will disproportionately affect the health of historically marginalized communities according to a written statement announcing the vote by the board member. It won't reverse all of the harm done but it will help prevent further damage to our planet and our patients' health and well-being.