Globally, pollution claims far more lives than contagious diseases or war. Specifically, air and water pollution pose the greatest risk. In 2015, researchers found that 9 million deaths worldwide were caused by pollution, which is equivalent to one in every six premature deaths. A report published in 2017 by the Lancet Commission states that pollution — in the form of air, water, soil, chemical, or occupational pollution — is currently the largest environmental cause of disease and premature death in the world. Air pollution, which is most severe in highly populated, low-income cities, is the number one cause, followed by water pollution, and then by pollution hazards in the workplace.
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As of 2017, air pollution in urban areas is highest in countries in South Asia and the Middle East, such as Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, India, and Pakistan.
On the other hand, the country with the least air pollution in urban areas is Australia.
Workplace pollution, which particularly affects miners and factory workers, results in 800,000 deaths per year across the globe.