Air Pollution Killed Over 53,000 in Iran Last Year

Air pollution killed at least 53,470 people in Iran last year, accounting for roughly 15 per cent of all deaths in the country, according to a medical expert citing official data.

Abbas Shahsavani, a faculty member at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, said air pollution ranks among the five leading causes of death in Iran.

The death rate of 86 per 100,000 people exceeds the global average, Shahsavani said.

Children under 5 account for 7 per cent of air pollution deaths in Iran.

The combination of air pollution with social and economic conditions places disproportionate pressure on residents of disadvantaged areas, according to the researcher.

A substantial portion of deaths from heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer are linked to air pollution.