Air pollution deaths on the rise; What’s behind the surge and how can you stay safe?

A new State of Global Air 2025 report warns of a rising global death toll linked to air pollution. Despite technological progress, toxic air continues to fuel heart attacks, strokes, and chronic diseases. Can we change course?

New Delhi: A new global report has sounded the alarm, air pollution deaths are once again on the rise. Despite decades of clean-air efforts, a growing and ageing global population exposed to hazardous pollutants means millions continue to die prematurely each year. The State of Global Air 2025 report, which analyses global air quality and health outcomes, warns that toxic air remains one of humanity’s deadliest environmental threats.

Air Pollution: Still a Global Killer

The report, based on the latest PM2.5 and ozone exposure data, reveals that air pollution now causes more deaths worldwide than many infectious diseases. Nearly nine out of ten pollution-linked deaths are due to non-communicable diseases like heart attacks, strokes, chronic lung disease, and cancer.

Experts note that while age-adjusted death rates have fallen in some regions due to improved healthcare and regulations, the total number of deaths has increased. The reason: population growth, urbanisation, and longer life expectancy are exposing more people, especially the elderly, to dangerous levels of particulate matter (PM2.5).

“Air pollution is no longer just a lung problem,” says the report. “It has become a major cardiovascular risk factor, contributing to global surges in heart and stroke mortality.”

How Dirty Air Kills

Air pollution is made up of microscopic toxins, PM2.5, ozone, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide, but PM2.5 is considered the most lethal. When inhaled, these fine particles penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, triggering a chain of biological damage:

• Inflammation: PM2.5 irritates lung tissue, setting off inflammation that spreads through the body.
• Heart Strain: Chronic inflammation destabilises plaque in arteries, increasing risks of heart attack or stroke.
• Vascular Damage: Pollutants reduce blood vessel elasticity and disrupt clotting, heightening cardiovascular stress.
• Chronic Illness: Long-term exposure accelerates conditions like COPD, lung cancer, and ischemic heart disease.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution contributes to millions of deaths annually, with the majority caused by cardiovascular events rather than respiratory illness.

How to Protect Yourself: Simple Yet Vital Protocols

While large-scale policy reforms remain the ultimate solution — such as clean energy adoption, stricter traffic control, and industrial regulation, individuals can take several measures to lower their risk:

• Use clean fuels or efficient stoves and ventilate kitchens to reduce indoor smoke.
• Avoid burning waste indoors and ensure proper air circulation at home.
• Monitor Air Quality Index (AQI) levels and limit outdoor activity when pollution peaks.
• Wear certified N95 or FFP2 masks outdoors in polluted conditions.
• Use air purifiers with HEPA filters for indoor protection, especially for children and the elderly.
• Follow medical advice: Patients with heart or lung disease should keep medication handy and seek care for sudden breathlessness or chest pain.

A Global Call to Action

The State of Global Air 2025 concludes that while progress is visible in some nations, global air quality remains dangerously poor. To reverse the rising trend of pollution-related deaths, governments, industries, and individuals must act in unison.

The report’s message is clear: cleaner air is not just about visibility, it’s about survival.