AIR POLLUTION IS A WORLDWIDE PROBLEM

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes air pollution as a major threat to human health, especially cardiovascular disease (such as coronary heart disease and stroke) and respiratory disease (including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], lung cancer, asthma, and respiratory infections). Outdoor air pollution caused and estimated 3.7 million premature deaths in 2012; indoor air pollution caused 4.3 million premature deaths.