Air pollution causes 7 mln premature deaths every year

According to the report of WHO released in September 2021, air pollution was estimated to cause seven million premature deaths per year and half of them were in developing countries. The deaths were caused by the effects of air pollution, mainly from chronic conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and heart disease, said Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation U Tun Ohn during the ceremony of the 2022 International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies yesterday.
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Minister said this year’s theme of “the air we share” focuses on the transboundary nature of air pollution, stressing the need for collective accountability and action.
The country conducts air quality measurements in Union Territory/Region/State monthly and announces in state-run newspapers starting May 2022.
He continued that it should use renewable energy in industry, and the transport sector, proper technologies that are conformity with the environment, conserve the quality of the environment and also should draft the national level air quality standards, air pollution prevention strategy and plans to help reduce air pollution.
Then, the documentary video of the 2022 International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies was presented.
The ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation U Min Thu, the permanent Secretary, directors-general, managing directors, departmental officials and relevant officials of Nay Pyi Taw/Region/State Environmental Conservation Department. — MNA