World.- Every year around the world there are at least 9 million premature deaths due to factors related to contamination, a figure higher than the deaths caused by the Covid-19 pandemic (5.8 million), reported this Wednesday the United Nations (UN).
“While the climate emergency, the global biodiversity crisis and COVID-19 grab the headlines, the devastation that pollution and hazardous substances wreak on health, human rights and the integrity of ecosystems continues to garner little attention. However, pollution and toxic substances cause at least nine million premature deaths, double the number of deaths caused by the pandemic in its first 18 months. it states David R. Boyd, UN Story,
The report denounces that one in six deaths in the world is related to diseases caused by pollution, a figure three times higher than the deaths caused by AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and even those caused by war and violent events.
One of the main factors is air pollution, which, according to the report’s estimates, is the largest environmental contributor to premature deaths, with at least seven million each year.
In this sense, it was explained that exposure to toxic substances increases the risk of premature death, acute intoxication, cancer, heart, cerebrovascular, and respiratory diseases, as well as the deterioration of the immune, endocrine, and reproductive systems.
David R. Boyd stated that the planet’s toxification is increasing, because while some substances have been banned for use and have been eliminated, the use and disposal of hazardous chemicals in general has increased.
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The report mentions that each year hundreds of tons of toxic substances are emitted into the air, water and soil and adds that from 2000 to 2017 alone the production of chemical substances doubled, which is expected to double by 2030 and triple in 2050; “The world is struggling to deal with chemical threats then and now,” Boyd said.
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