This brief fact sheet includes key information and statistics regarding air quality, pollution, cities, and health.
Poor air quality is a contributory factor in the deaths of millions of people around the world. Air pollution has serious health impacts, including respiratory tract infection, heart disease, and lung cancer. Pollutants from motor vehicles are a major contributory factor to outdoor air pollution. Most pollutants are linked to exhaust gases from internal combustion engines, particularly from diesel fuel, but fine particles can also be produced by tyre and brake wear.