Pollution responsible for one in six deaths across planet, scientists warn

Pollution is killing 9 million people a year. Toxic air and contaminated water and soil is an existential threat to human and planetary health. Increased fossil fuel burning, rising population numbers and unplanned urbanization have increased the numbers of deaths from pollution. Death by pollution disproportionately occurs in low and middle income countries. But pollution crosses borders and thus requires an international response. Pollution, the climate crisis and the destruction of wildlife and nature are interconnected and addressing one will benefit the others. Photo credit: Rupak de Chowdhuri/Reuters