According to a recent Cornell University study, pollution should be given the same importance as cancer and heart disease for causing millions of deaths worldwide.
Lead researcher and professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, David Pimentel, said that in the United States alone, 76,000 people are in the hospital each year, with 5,000 deaths, just due to pollution of air, food or water. Cancers are increasing in the U.S., and AIDS is on the rise.
As per the study 62 million people die worldwide due to the presence of organic and chemical pollutants in the environment. Deteriorating environmental conditions are responsible for the rise of diseases such as E.coli, malaria, tuberculosis, and AIDS.
One of the most common features seen in developing countries is the dumping of sewage into the waterways, an action which ultimately leads to the spread of various water borne diseases. Not just sewage, but even wood burning fires are responsible for environmental pollution.
I hope this study makes the policy makers, as well as the people world over realize the importance of looking after the environment. After all if we want to live a happy and a long life, we have to get our act together before it is too late.
