Air Pollution Turning Deadly: Global Report Reveals Sharp Rise in Deaths Linked to Toxic Air

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): If you feel that the air has become more toxic and deaths due to pollution are rising you’re not alone. A new international report, ‘State of Global Air 2025,’ has warned that air pollution has become one of the leading causes of premature deaths worldwide.

According to the report, rising population, aging demographics, and persistently high pollution levels are contributing to a steady increase in pollution-related deaths. Experts state that air pollution is no longer limited to respiratory diseases it has now become a major cause of heart disease, stroke, and brain disorders.

Air Pollution Proving Deadly

The State of Global Air 2025 study analyzed PM2.5 and ozone exposure data along with global disease burden models to assess air quality and health outcomes. The report highlights that air pollution remains one of the top global killers, responsible for millions of deaths every year.

Nearly 9 out of 10 air pollution-related deaths are caused by non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, chronic lung disease, and lung cancer. In short, air pollution has evolved from being just a “lung issue” to a major trigger for heart attacks, strokes, and chronic cardiovascular illnesses.

Warning: Rising Toxic Air Means Rising Risk

The report cautions that if immediate action is not taken, air pollution could become the third largest global cause of death by 2030. Experts emphasize that “clean air” should now be recognized not just as an environmental need but as a fundamental public health right.

How Air Pollution Becomes Fatal

Air pollution is a complex mixture of harmful particles such as PM2.5, ozone, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide — with PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) being the most lethal component.

PM2.5 penetrates deep into the lungs: These microscopic particles reach the deepest air sacs, causing irritation and inflammation in lung tissues.

Inflammation spreads through the body: The signals from inflamed lungs enter the bloodstream, increasing overall body inflammation and destabilizing artery plaques raising the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Affects blood and vessels directly: Pollutants can alter the blood’s clotting mechanism and weaken blood vessel function, heightening the risk of fatal cardiovascular events.

Causes long-term health damage: Prolonged exposure to polluted air leads to chronic diseases such as COPD, lung cancer, and heart ailments, resulting in premature deaths.