Air Pollution is the ‘New Tobacco’, World Health Organization

Air pollution is the new tobacco. Time to tackle this epidemic as stated by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus head of World Health Organization.

Dr Tedros Adhanom has warned saying:

“Simple act of breathing is killing 7 million people a year and harming billions more, but ‘a smog of complacency pervades the planet.”

The most affected are the children as revealed in research. Over 90% of the world’s population is suffering from toxic air.

Dr Tedros Adhanom the World Health Organization (WHO) Director General, has said the world must turn the corner for the “new tobacco” just as it has turned to tobacco. Billions of people breathe the toxic air every day.

Air pollution is the ‘new tobacco’, WHO

“No one, rich or poor, can escape air pollution. It is a silent public health emergency.”

In an article for the Guardian Dr. Tedros has said:

“Despite this epidemic of needless, preventable deaths and disability, a smog of complacency pervades the planet.This is a defining moment and we must scale up action to urgently respond to this challenge.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) will be hosting its first global conference in Geneva headquarters next week (October 30 – November 1) on air pollution and health. It is expected that the nations and cities to make new strategies and commitments to reduce air pollution.

Dr. Maria Neira , World Health Organization (WHO) director for public health and environment has said that the developing bodies of children and babies are most at risk she also added that 300 million people live in the places where toxic fumes are six times above international guidelines.

Even though air pollution adversely affects all of us but the most vulnerable are the children. Health experts links toxic air with damaged intelligence, respiratory diseases and cancer. It is a very disturbing and alarming state as the future of children is being polluted.