More than two million people die every year worldwide because of diseases caused by air pollution, according to a study published Sept. 26 by the World Health Organization (WHO). 1.1 million deaths could be prevented if standards had been met.

Polluted air can "enter the lungs into the bloodstream and cause heart disease, lung cancer, cases of asthma and respiratory infections," said the WHO has compiled data on the quality air, provided by 1100 cities in 91 countries. 80 of these countries do not meet the benchmarks of the international organization, in terms of air pollution.

In many cities, said Dr. Maria Neira, director of Public Health and Environment of WHO, "the
air pollution at levels hazardous to health. "The most dangerous areas are located in the fast-growing countries, says WHO refuses to provide a ranking of the most affected, but said that in some of their concentration of fine particles is 15 times greater than the maximum threshold set. "

"If the countries' control and manage the environment properly, we can significantly reduce the number of people who suffer from respiratory and cardiac and lung cancer." "Many countries have no regulations on the quality of the air, and when there is one, national standards and their application vary.

The leading causes of air pollution are transport, industry, the use of biomass or coal in kitchens and heating, and coal power plants.

Development of public transport, promoting walking and cycling, and construction of plants using fuels other than coal are the WHO recommendations, which states that the most severe air pollution in people cs'observent already sick, children and the elderly.