Global Air Pollution Costs $255 Billion Annually

Worldwide air pollution caused 5.5 million deaths in 2013 from lung cancer stroke, bronchitis and other diseases -- more than malaria or AIDS; And the cost of pollution-related illness and deaths is $255 billion in lost labor last year, the World Bank said in a new report on Sept 8. One tenth of all deaths in 2013 came from air pollution, said the World Bank. But the real cost is even higher - more than $5 trillion in 2013 a year - when the Bank economists included what they call "welfare costs" - the money people would be willing to pay to prevent an early death. One in ten deaths around world is from air pollution, said the Bank's report authors. And even if London, New York and other wealthy cities have greatly cut pollution in recent decades, the toxic fumes have greatly increased in China, India and other growing economies. Read the full article @ Huffington Post

@ The World Bank - The Cost of Air Pollution report seeks to strengthen the economic case for acting to curb air pollution and save lives. Although the message is clear – air pollution costs are staggering and should be reduced through policy action -- some of the terms used in the report can easily be misunderstood. We answer here frequently asked questions.