The World Health Organization has highlighted that 99% of the population is exposed to polluted air.
Seven million deaths annually are attributed to air pollution-related illnesses including COPD, lung cancer and respiratory infections. The European Lung Foundation calls on global leaders to intensify efforts to combat air pollution, a leading cause of lung disease and death worldwide.
World Lung Day (Wednesday, 25 September) is organized by the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS). This year’s theme, “Clean Air and Healthy Lungs for All,” highlights the critical link between air quality and lung health.
Toxic air is a universal threat, impacting everyone from infants to older people. Exposure can shorten lives, damage lungs, worsen asthma, and lead to chronic lung diseases.
An alarming 99% of the global population breathes air exceeding World Health Organization guideline limits, with low- and middle-income countries more affected.
Patricia Rivera MD, president of FIRS and past-president of the American Thoracic Society, emphasises the impact of climate change on public health:
“Rising air pollution and ground-level ozone, linked to greenhouse gas emissions, are diminishing lung function, increasing hospitalisations for respiratory diseases, and elevating the risk of lung cancer.
We must intensify efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to combat the health risks and mortality linked to air pollution worldwide.”
Climate change is a driver of air pollution. As the earth warms, weather patterns become disrupted leading to increased wildfires, dust storms and stagnant air masses that trap pollutants closer to the ground. This rise in air pollution is having an impact on lung health. Children, older adults, and people with existing lung conditions are especially vulnerable to its effects. Climate change is also linked to the spread of infectious diseases, such as pneumonia, which can further compromise lung health.
FIRS calls on governments and healthcare providers worldwide to prioritise reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This critical step will improve air quality, protect lung health, and save lives.
The FIRS World Lung Day Webinar will be held on 25 September at 13:00 CEST. It will be chaired by Patricia Rivera, MD. It will be an opportunity to engage with global experts on issues affecting lung health, from climate change to the need for global standardisation and advocacy.
Triple Threat to Lung Health
Find key facts on air pollution, tobacco use, and climate change here.
The Global Impact of Respiratory Disease report also outlines major causes of respiratory disease and lays out recommendations for global action.
The Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) is a collaborative organization consisting of the world’s foremost international respiratory societies. Comprising over 70,000 members globally, FIRS is dedicated to advancing lung health on a global scale.
FIRS comprises: the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), American Thoracic Society (ATS), the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology (APSR), Asociación Latino Americana De Tórax (ALAT), European Respiratory Society (ERS), International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (The Union), Pan African Thoracic Society (PATS), the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), and the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD).
