As per a study conducted by Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health, released in Lancet medical journal, India has topped the list of countries with highest pollution-related deaths in year 2015. In this context, pollution-related death refers to death caused by diseases linked to air, water and other forms of pollution.
About Study conducted by Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health:
More than 40 international health and environmental authors were involved in this study which is a part of a two-year project.
- The study team was led by Philip Landrigan, an environmental scientist, and Richard Fuller, founder of NGO Pure Earth.
- The study also includes contributions from India’s former Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh and IIT-Delhi’s Prof Mukesh Khare.
Highlights of Study conducted by Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health:
In 2015, pollution-related death toll in India stood at 2.51 million, which is 28 per cent of an estimated 9 million pollution-linked deaths worldwide in the same year.
- 81 million out of 2.51 million pollution-related deaths were due to polluted air, whereas polluted water caused 0.64 million deaths in India.
- Nearly 92 per cent of pollution-related deaths were reported in low and middle income countries and in those countries which are witnessing rapid industrialisation.
- As per the study, out of 9 million pollution-related deaths worldwide in 2015, 6.5 million deaths were linked to air pollution whereas water pollution and workplace-related pollution caused 1.8 million and 0.8 million deaths respectively.
- The study has outlined that the world economy suffered $4.6 trillion annual losses (as financial cost) due to pollution-related death, sickness and welfare. This amount is equivalent to 6.2% of the global economy
Pollution-Related Deaths – Worst Affected Countries:
| Country | Pollution-Related Deaths |
| India | 2.15 million |
| China | 1.83 million |
| Pakistan | 0.31 million |
| Nigeria | 0.25 million |
| Indonesia | 0.21 million |