‘Environmental factor linked to 23% fatality globally’

Country’s temperature is projected to reach 50 degrees Celsius by 2027, say experts

KARACHI:

Environmental factors are responsible for 24% of diseases and 23% of fatalities around the globe, said healthcare experts during a seminar on "Environmental Hazards and Effects on Human Health" at Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) on Tuesday.

APPNA Institute of Public Health (AIPH), in-charge, Prof. Amna Rehana Siddiqui, highlighted that environmental diseases are 15 times more prevalent in developing nations and its risks have a major impact on human health.

She emphasised that environmental risks pose both direct and indirect threats to human health.

The catastrophic effects of the intense heat waves that struck Karachi in June 2015 and 2020 were discussed at the seminar. These events resulted in several fatalities and an increase in heat-related diseases.

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JSMU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Amjad Siraj Memon, stressed the importance of having a plan for managing heat waves in the city and warned the city residents about the potential consequences of prolonged periods of intense heat in the future.

The symposium delved into air pollution-related diseases, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, tuberculosis, mental health issues, reduced pregnancy rates, lower birth weight, and decreased life expectancy.

Experts pointed out that Karachi is particularly affected by air pollution due to the absence of a mass transit system, leading to a significant amount of air pollution throughout the city caused by fuel usage.

The experts predict a decrease in annual rainfall in Pakistan, with minimal rainfall expected until 2025. "By 2027, the country's temperature is projected to reach 50 degrees Celsius", they stressed.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around seven million deaths were recorded in 2012, with air pollution accounting for one in every eight deaths. These statistics underscore that air pollution is presently the most significant global threat to environmental health.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 25^th, 2023.