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A global snapshot of the air pollution-related health impacts of transportation sector emissions in 2010 and 2015

Some 385,000 people worldwide died prematurely in 2015 from air pollution caused by vehicle exhaust emissions finds this study published by International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) which singled out diesel engines as the main culprit.  China, the EU, the United States, and India accounted for 70% of global transportation-attributable PM2.5 and ozone deaths but just under half of the global population.

Exhaust from vehicles is a major source of outdoor air pollution worldwide. This study links state-of-the-art vehicle emissions, air pollution, and epidemiological models to estimate the impacts of transportation sector emissions on ambient PM2.5 and ozone and associated health impacts in 2010 and 2015. It provides a detailed picture of the global, regional, and local health impacts attributable to emissions from four transportation subsectors: on-road diesel vehicles, other on-road vehicles, shipping, and non-road mobile engines such as agricultural and construction equipment.