While often associated with respiratory issues, the study highlights that is responsible for the majority of these premature deaths. Professor Jos Lelieveld, a co-lead of the research, explains that air pollutants cause oxidative stress that damages blood vessels, leading to increased blood pressure, strokes, and heart attacks. Regional Disparities

Air pollution cuts lives short by roughly 3.1 years . Europe: Lives are shortened by an average of 2.2 years . North America: People lose about 1.4 years on average. The Fossil Fuel Factor

The burden of air pollution is not distributed equally. Some regions face a much more severe loss of life than others: Residents lose an average of 3.9 years .

According to a landmark study published in Cardiovascular Research , air pollution led to an estimated globally in a single year. Researchers found that the toxic mix of gases and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) causes an average reduction of 2.9 years in life expectancy worldwide.

The Global Threat: Air Pollution Slashes Human Lifespan by Nearly Three Years