Negative Externalities - Air pollution is slashing years off the lives of billions

The World Health Organisation has called air pollution the "silent tsunami" and the latest data on the negative externalities of air pollution suggests that it is a bigger killer than many seemingly 'obvious' sources - notably smoking.

The University of Chicago's Air Quality Life Index makes some interesting claims about the impact of various factors on life expectancy, and is worth a look. This article by Damian Carrington in the Guardian makes for sombre reading.

"Air pollution is the greatest external threat to human health on the planet, and that is not widely recognised, or not recognised with the force and vigour that one might expect. Dirty air is a far greater killer than smoking, car crashes or HIV/Aids, with coal burning the leading cause."