13 Million Deaths Could Be Prevented

27 July 2007

13 Million Deaths Could Be Prevented

According to the World Health Organization, over one third of the current diseases and 13 million deaths worldwide could be prevented if the conditions of the environment will improve.

The data that was released by the WHO on June 13 identified two environmental factors that cause over 10 percent of fatalities. One of which is indoor air pollution triggered by cooking and unsafe water, which also includes poor hygiene and sanitation.

Indoor pollution kills approximately one million kids annually. Hence, several health experts suggest utilising fans and imposing proper systems for ventilations to clear the air.

Amel Al-Naggar, who is the general coordinator and one of the chemists of the Saudi Environmental Society, appealed for help and called for new strategies to prevent the increasing number of mortality caused by unhealthy environments.

Al Naggar is deeply concerned with the 74 percent of children who die because of diarrhea and respiratory infections. She also noted that the poor countries are more prone to environmental diseases. Al Naggar’s claim is supported by the report of the WHO, which states that citizens of low-income nations die earlier than the residents of countries with high-income.

Al Naggar elaborated that food poisoning caused by mercury, air pollution that comes from lead and other chemicals will eventually lead to negative effects on health such as miscarriages and sterility. She added that humans would be prone to schizophrenia and nephropathy if they will continuously be exposed to various chemicals.

“We just need to follow certain procedures to decrease and prevent deaths,” Al-Naggar said.