9 in 10 people worldwide affected by unsafe air pollution levels: WHO

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9 in 10 people worldwide affected by unsafe air pollution levels: WHO

More than 90% of the world’s population lives in areas with unsafe air pollution levels, according to a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The report states that more than 6 million people died in 2012 from diseases related to air pollution.

“Air pollution continues to take a toll on the health of the most vulnerable populations—women, children and the older adults,” said Flavia Bustreo, WHO assistant director general, as quoted by TIME. “For people to be healthy, they must breathe clean air from their first breath to their last.”

The study is based on air pollution data in 3,000 cities and towns across the globe. Unsafe air pollution levels affected every region tracked in the study, but some areas were worse off than others. Residents of Africa, Asia and the Middle East faced the worst pollution, according to the report. High-income countries were largely far better off than the low and middle-income countries, where 90% of global deaths occur.

However, around 15% of high-income cities in the Americas, including Los Angeles and Manhattan, fell short of WHO standards. In Europe, more than 60% of high-income cities fell short including Paris and London.