How much disease could be prevented through better management of our environment? This report summarizes the results globally and shows that environmental risk factors play a role in more than 80% of the diseases regularly reported by the World Health Organization. Globally, nearly one quarter of all deaths and of the total disease burden can be attributed to the environment. For example, an estimated 42% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a gradual loss of lungfunction, is attributable to environmental risk factors such as occupational exposures to dust and chemicals, as well as indoor air pollution from household solid fuel use. These findings have important policy implications, because the environmental risk factors that were studied largely can be modified by established, cost-effective interventions.
