According to a latest report released by World Bank on Thursday, India has lost an estimated 1.4 million lives in 2013 due to air pollution. The toll was 1.6 million in China.

The report, published jointly by the World Bank and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation shows that more than five million people died worldwide in 2013 due to the deterioration in health condition posed by air pollution. 60% of these deaths have been registered from China and India.

Air pollution increases the risk of developing ailments like lungs caner, stroke, heart disease and chronic bronchitis.

Apart from India and China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan were among the 15 nations with the highest toll per million population. China and India ranked 4th and 6th worst in the world respectively. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan were ranked 11th, 12th and 15th on this count.

While Georgia witnessed the highest rate of air pollution deaths per million of its population in 2013 at 2,117. The country was followed by Cabodia with a death rate of 1,300 per million. 10 countries on the list out of 142, had higher than 1,000 deaths per million. Australia had the best result with just 34 deaths per million.

According to the report, the world economy spends more than $5 trillion to fight air pollution. And $66 billion is spent on manpower loss.

India spent $560 billion, which I equivalent to 8.5% of the country’s GDP.

After metabolic risks, dietary risks and tobacco smoke, air pollution is the fourth leading cause of health risks in the world. It not only takes toll on one’s health but also affects a person’s economic productivity.

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The Logical Indian is appalled by the figures of the world bank. While more countries are investing on billions of dollars for buying defence equipments, the world should be more concerned on environmental threat that is taking a toll on humanity.