Michael greenstone on the Impact of Air Pollution on Human Health

Air pollution is the greatest threat to human health, worse than smoking, wars, or car accidents. The Air Quality Life Index, created by economist Michael Greenstone, shows that people would live 2.2 years longer if their area had clean air. The World Health Organization estimates that 7 million people die each year from polluted air, double the number of COVID deaths in 2020. Pollution causes pneumonia, stroke, and heart disease. It also costs the global economy nearly $3 trillion a year.