Enemies of health and allies of poverty join hand to create global havoc, leaving different marks on different classes
It is now evident that health risks related to consumption are on the rise. Some suffer from plenty, others from scarcity.
Among the 170 million underweight children in poor countries, over 3 million will die this year
Among the 300 million clinically obese people, half a million in only the United States and Western Europe will die this year
More than 60% of deaths worldwide is caused by epidemics of non-communicable diseases, clearly related to changes in dietary patterns. More people are consuming industrially produced fatty, salty and sugar-laden food
Ambient air pollution contributes 0.8 million deaths globally causing trachea, bronchus and lung cancer, cardiorespiratory and respiratory infection mortality.
Climate change claimed 154,000 deaths through diarrhoea, malaria, dengue fever
Worldwide, 10.3% of cancer of the lung, trachea, bronchus, and 2.4% of leukaemia, is caused by occupational exposure to carcinogens like asbestos, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, diesel exhaust, nickel and silica
What afflicts Depends on money? |
|
Developing countries | |
Percentage | |
High mortality countries | |
Underweight Unsafe sex Unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene Indoor smoke from solid fuels Zinc deficiency Iron deficiency Vitamin A deficiency Blood pressure Tobacco Cholesterol |
14.9 10.2 5.5 3.6 3.2 3.1 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.9 |
Low mortality countries | |
Alcohol Blood pressure Tobacco Underweight Overweight Cholesterol Low fruit and vegetable intake Indoor smoke from solid fuels Iron deficiency Unsafe water, sanitation, hygiene |
6.2 5.0 4.0 3.1 2.7 2.1 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.8 |
Developed countries | |
Tobacco Blood pressure Alcohol Cholesterol Overweight Low fruit and vegetable intake Physical inactivity Illicit drugs Unsafe sex Iron deficiency |
12.2 10.9 9.2 7.6 7.4 3.9 3.3 1.8 0.8 0.7 |
What
inflicts Depends on how you look after your surroundings |
||
Risk factor | Theoretical minimum exposure |
Measured adverse outcome of exposure |
Unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene | Absence of transmission of diarrhoeal disease through water, sanitation and hygiene practices | Diarrhoea |
Urban air pollution | 7.5 ug/m3 for PM2.5 | Cardiovascular mortality, respiratory mortality, lung cancer, mortality from acute respiratory infections in children |
Indoor smoke from solid fuels | No solid fuel use | Acute respiratory infections in children, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer |
Lead exposure | 0.016 ug/dl blood lead levels | Cardiovascular disease, mild mental retardation |
Climate change | 1961-199 0 concentrations | Diarrhoea, flood injury, malaria, malnutrition |
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