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U.N.: Pollution Causes More Premature Deaths Than COVID-19

HeadlineFeb 16, 2022

A new U.N. report finds more people are being killed by pollution globally than by the COVID-19 pandemic. The report says pollution from pesticides, plastics and electronic waste is causing at least 9 million premature deaths a year. Despite the shocking figures, the U.N. warns the crisis is being neglected.

David Boyd: “To put it bluntly is that this is a product of racism, colonialism, classism, which means the majority of the people who are dying because of pollution and exposure to toxic substances are poor people, people of color, living in low- and middle-income nations and simply are below the radar screen for far too many people.”

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