After 10 years, the World Health Organization (OMS) updates data and estimates the diseases due to environmental pollution, exposure to harmful chemicals, climate change and ultraviolet radiation. The data are contained in the report “Prevention of Disease Through Healthy Environments: A Global Assessment of the Burden of Disease from Environmental Risks“, a study based on the analysis of 650 scientific works around the world. Some of the studies have been developed by the Unit of Environmental Epidemiology and Disease Registry of the Institute of Clinical Physiology (IFC) of the Italian National Research Council, based in Pisa.
“For many years, the Institute has been engaged in research on this subject, now included in the project area ‘Environment and Impact on Ecosystems and Health’ coordinated by the Department of Earth Sciences and Environmental Technologies” explains Fabrizio Bianchi of the IFC-CNR. “In particular, we are proud that the report highlights the guidelines for the primary prevention of congenital malformations prepared by the Eurocat-Jrc European Network, to which IFC- contributed in collaboration with the National Health Institute.”
The report analyses the impact of over 100 pathologies, estimating that in the world over 12.6 million deaths are attributable each year to exposure to unhealthy life and workplaces (25% of overall mortality), while deaths for non-communicable diseases, however attributable to environmental pollution-related causes (including direct and secondary exposures to tobacco smoke) such as cardio and cerebrovascular diseases, tumors and respiratory diseases account for 65% of total mortality. Among the first causes of death associated with environmental hazards are heart attack, heart ischemic diseases, accidents, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases (data updated in 2012), with more effects on children and the elderly. Every year, early deaths of 1.7 million children under 5 years and 4.9 million people between 50 and 75 years could be prevented.
Significant data are also provided on the national framework: in Italy, more than 75,000 preventable premature deaths are estimated each year, and over two million years lost for premature death and / or disability. “Particular emphasis is also given to preventive measures to counter diseases and deaths related to the unhealthy environment, from investments in low environmental impact technologies and greater use of renewable sources which, in addition to reducing the overall burden of disease, are able to lower costs for health care” adds Bianchi. “Only in Europe, appropriate interventions would prevent 1.4 million deaths per year, especially for cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Precisely to this topic is devoted the study on cost-benefit assessments of health impact in areas to be reclaimed by IFC-CNR in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, about which we have further research developments and field applications. The fact that WHO has recalled this study confirms interest in research on the relationship between economic costs and health benefits of environmental remediation interventions.”