Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1469783
HEI undertook the Global Burden of Disease from Major Air Pollution Sources (GBD-MAPS) project to determine which air pollution sources or fuels contribute most to outdoor PM2.5 concentrations and their associated health burden. The study provides the first comprehensive estimates at global, regional and national levels, which can help inform policy. BACK PAGE Inhalation June 2022 37 Study provides first comprehensive global estimates of PM 2.5 sources and cause-specific disease burden Global, regional and national results will help inform policies "Exposure to air pollution has long been associated with mortality and shortened life expectancy and has been acknowledged as one of the main risk factors that affect peo- ple's health worldwide," accord- ing to the Health Effects Institute (HEI). "Among all air pollutants, fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) has been identified as a substantial public health concern." Prior assessments have published information on the impacts of outdoor PM 2.5 and other air pollutants on air quality and health, HEI explained, but they have not provided detailed infor- mation on which sources of air pollution are the biggest contrib- utors to health burden. Consequently, HEI undertook the Global Burden of Disease from Major Air Pollution Sources (GBD MAPS) project, designed to determine which air pollution sources or fuels contribute most to outdoor PM 2.5 concentra- tions and their associated health burden. e study was intended to have a global scope, whereas two previous HEI GBD MAPS studies were conducted in China and India. e global study was conducted by Dr. Erin McDuffie and Dr. Randall Martin of Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, US and Dr. Michael Brauer of e University of British Columbia in Canada and their colleagues. HEI The contribution of coal combustion to population-weighted PM 2.5 by region in 2017 Contribution to PM 2.5 (%) in 2017 0 5 10 15 20 25