Car emissions killing millions in China and India, says study

Date: 18/12/2012

A surge in the number of people using cars in south and east Asia has led to millions dying prematurely through pollution caused by vehicle emissions.

A study published by the Lancet - titled the (GBR) Global Burden of Disease - revealed that in 2010 more than 2.1 million people in Asia lost their life in this way.

Particles in the air made up of diesel soot and gases were blamed, along with other forms of air pollution caused by construction and industry.

Around 1.2 million deaths occurred in east Asia and China, with a further 712,000 in south Asia and India, adding up to 3.2 million around the world in 2010. This figure puts air pollution in the top ten list of killer diseases for the first time. It also highlights the need for car manufacturers and governments to continue their work in reducing emissions from vehicles.

(NRDC) Natural Resources Defence Council Director of the Southern California Air Programme, said: "That's a terribly high number – and much more people than previously thought. Earlier studies were limited to data that was available at the time on coarse particles in urban areas only."

Anumita Roychowdhury, CSE's Executive Director for Research and Advocacy and Head of its Air Pollution Unit, added: "This GBR count on air pollution and its health risks must trigger urgent, aggressive and most stringent action in India to curb air pollution to protect public health. India cannot afford to enhance health risk at a time when much of its economic growth and motorisation are yet to happen."

The results of the study were collated by over 450 experts around the world, which included those from the World Health Organization, Johns Hopkins University, Harvard University and the Health Effects Institute.

"Days of doubts and complacency are over. There is hard enough evidence now to act urgently to reduce the public health risks to all, particularly the children, elderly, and poor. No-one can escape toxic air," Ms Roychowdhury added.