Summary
- Pollution from man-made emissions and wildfires contributed to around 135 million premature deaths globally between 1980-2020.
- Particulate matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) from vehicle and industrial emissions, as well as natural sources, was a major factor.
- Weather patterns like El Nino and the Indian Ocean Dipole exacerbated the effects of pollutants.
- Asia, particularly China and India, had the highest number of premature deaths due to PM 2.5 pollution.
