Pollution is the world's biggest killer. It caused one in six, or 16 per cent, of all global deaths in 2015. Most of these deaths were from diseases like heart disease, lung cancer and stroke. Researchers said 92 per cent of pollution-related deaths were in poor countries, especially countries with a lot of economic development. Bangladesh and Somalia were the countries most affected. Brunei and Sweden had the lowest numbers of deaths because of pollution.
A researcher said: "Pollution, poverty [and] poor health…are deeply [linked]." He said pollution threatens human rights, such as the right to life and health. Air pollution was the biggest killer. It killed 6.5 million people in 2015. The second biggest killer was water pollution. Next, was pollution in the workplace. A scientist said: "Air pollution is reaching crisis point." People with breathing problems, children and the elderly are hardest hit.