Global environmental pollution - statistics & facts Published by Ian Tiseo, Dec 9, 2022 Pollution is defined as the introduction of harmful contaminants into the environment that negatively alters our surroundings. The widespread prevalence of environmental pollution began with the birth of the industrial revolution and has not slowed down since. As economies and populations have continued to grow over the years, so too has environmental pollution. This has created a serious global problem that continues to affect biodiversity, ecosystems, and human health worldwide. Air pollution Air pollution is one of the most important environmental issues facing the planet today. Air pollution is not only devastating to the environment but also to human health. Globally, it is estimated that there are some seven million deaths related to air pollution each year. Some of the main sources of air pollutants are transportation, industrial processes, and domestic combustion, Land pollution Land pollution refers to the deterioration of the earth's surfaces through direct or indirect human activities. There are many causes of land pollution, including agricultural fertilizers and pesticide, mining, and landfill sites. Humans produce huge volumes of solid waste every year, but much of this waste is landfilled or disposed of at open dumps, which inevitably leaks into the environment. Water pollution Human activities on land are the most common causes of pollution in oceans, rivers, lakes, and other waterways. For example, agricultural pesticide run-off is the main cause of nitrate contamination in groundwater, while sewage released into waterways exposes millions of people to drinking water contaminated with human excrement and diseases like cholera and dysentery. It isn't just humans that are negatively impacted by water pollution. Plastic waste has gained negative attention in recent years due to images of marine animals trapped in plastic netting or choking on plastic straws and wrappers. STATISTICS ON THE TOPIC • Overview • Air pollution • Land pollution • Water pollution ESTIMATED GLOBAL DEATHS FROM ALL SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTION 6.7m ESTIMATED QUANTITIES OF PLASTIC IN MAJOR MARINE AREAS 5.3 trillion PROJECTED MSW GENERATION WORLDWIDE BY 2060 3.4bn t Overview • Global deaths due to air pollution 2019, by type • Quantity of plastic in major marine areas 2019 • Global municipal solid waste generation projection 2016-2050 • Annual average number of global oil spills per decade 1970-2021 Air pollution • Average PM2.5 levels in most polluted countries worldwide 2020-2021 • Average PM2.5 levels in the most polluted cities worldwide 2021 • Average PM2.5 levels in the most polluted capital cities worldwide 2019-2021 • Global particulate emissions damage as a share of GNI 1990-2020, by select country • Global sulfur oxide emissions 2020, by select country • Nitrogen oxide emissions worldwide 2020, by select country Land pollution • Global share of waste disposal and treatment by method 2016 • Global regional waste disposal by method 2016 • World's biggest dump sites 2019 • Global tree cover loss 2021, by dominant driver • Global primary forest loss 2021, by leading country • Global pesticide agricultural use 1990-2020 Water pollution • Lowest clean waters scores worldwide 2021, by country • Main litter types found in oceans worldwide 2021, by environment • Share of ocean plastic waste inputs worldwide 2019, by country • Groundwater nitrate contamination sources worldwide 2018 • Biggest oil spills worldwide since 1967 • Global oil tanker spills by volume 1970-2021 • Global oil tanker disasters by quantity of spilled oil 1967-2021
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