Global air pollution exposure and poverty
Jun Rentschler1, Nadezda Leonova2
1The World Bank, Washington, WA, USA. jrentschler@worldbank.org.
Nature Communications
|July 22, 2023
Summary
Air pollution disproportionately impacts impoverished communities globally. Billions breathe unsafe fine particulate matter (PM2.5), with the most vulnerable populations in low-income nations facing the highest risks.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Public Health
- Socioeconomic Determinants of Health
Background:
- Air pollution is a major global health risk, causing significant mortality and morbidity.
- Lower-income populations experience disproportionately higher exposure and vulnerability to air pollution.
- Understanding the nexus between environmental quality and socioeconomic status is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between ambient air pollution exposure and poverty across 211 countries and territories.
- To quantify the number of people exposed to unsafe fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels, stratified by income.
- To identify regions with the highest burden of air pollution among the poorest populations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized World Health Organization's (WHO) 2021 revised fine particulate matter (PM2.5) thresholds.
- Employed high-resolution air pollution and population maps with global coverage.
- Integrated subnational poverty estimates derived from harmonized household surveys.
Main Results:
- Globally, 7.3 billion people are exposed to average annual PM2.5 concentrations exceeding WHO guidelines.
- Eighty percent of those exposed live in low- and middle-income countries.
- 716 million of the world's poorest individuals (earning <$1.90/day) reside in areas with unsafe air pollution, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Conclusions:
- A significant global disparity exists in air pollution exposure, with the poor bearing the brunt.
- Lower-middle-income countries exhibit high pollution levels, often linked to economic reliance on polluting industries.
- Addressing air pollution requires integrated strategies that consider socioeconomic factors and prioritize vulnerable populations.
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