Moldova marks International Day of Clean Air

Chisinau, 7 September /MOLDPRES/- The Republic of Moldova marks the International Day of Clean Air. The action aims to encourage the international community's interest in clean air and emphasize the need for further efforts to improve air quality, including reducing pollution.

This year the theme of the event is "Healthy air, healthy planet" which highlights the impact of air pollution on health, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The day serves as a call to action to align Moldova with international efforts.

Experts say air pollution is the biggest environmental risk to human health and one of the leading preventable causes of death and disease globally, with around 7 million premature deaths (2020) worldwide attributed to indoor and outdoor air pollution. In the absence of prompt intervention, it is estimated that the number of premature deaths resulting from ambient air pollution will increase by more than 50% by 2050.

WHO data show that globally, 92% of the population is exposed to polluted air, which causes approximately 7 million premature deaths annually.

Statistics show that in the Republic of Moldova polluted air is the second largest risk factor for non-communicable diseases after tobacco use, causing 12%, which is about 4,700 deaths.

Photo: agrobiznes.md