42 Alarming Pollution Statistics (2024 UPDATE)

We’ve gathered some of the most frightening and some of the least known pollution statistics. Hopefully, they’ll help you understand what a massive problem pollution has become.

But before we dive into the stats, let’s see some highlights.

What are the Top 10 Pollution Statistics for 2024

Everything from the food you buy in grocery stores to the vacation you take (which you’ve worked so hard for) results in pollution.

Pollution will continue to be one of our biggest problems unless we take action and make changes.

General Pollution Statistics

Pollution comes in many shapes and forms. Some of which we haven’t even thought about before.

It’s easy to overlook that tiny plastic wrapper on the floor as you step over it. But, if you knew its effect on the environment and the wildlife, you’d reconsider your actions and place it in the recycling bin.

Below, you’ll find some general statistics on pollution covering many aspects of it and ways it can affect us in the long run.

1. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is more than 600,000 square miles in diameter.

(USA Today)

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch sits between Hawaii and California. It is precisely as the name suggests — a massive collection of plastic. To put things into perspective, it’s twice the size of Texas.

World pollution statistics from 2020 reveal the patch comprises approximately 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic. It’s estimated it weighs about 88,000 tons. The patch was discovered in the 1990s.

Further tracking revealed that it comes from around the Pacific Rim from countries in the Americas and Asia.

2. Every hour 800 people die from air pollution.

(World Economic Forum)

Let’s break down these pollution facts from 2019 even further.

The data reveals that approximately 13 people die from air pollution a minute. This is three times the number of deaths from malaria, AIDS, and tuberculosis combined for a year.

Air pollution directly causes 43% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease deaths. It also causes 29% of lung cancer deaths and 24% of stroke deaths.

Furthermore, it’s linked to childhood cancers, low birth weight, obesity, asthma, and many other health defects in children.

3. Facts about pollution reveal that the Yangtze River carries 333,000 metric tons of plastic into the ocean.

(Our World in Data)

The top 20 rivers contributing to plastic pollution in oceans account for nearly 67% of river input to oceans. Statistics show Yangtze River in China has the most significant impact on plastic pollution.

The Ganges River contributes around 115,000 tons of plastic, whereas the Xi River in China comes third with 73,900 tons. What’s more, the vast majority of polluting rivers came from Asia.

4. Some distressing China pollution facts: In 2018, 37.6% of cities had experienced acid rain.

(Statista)

What is even scarier is that 3% of these monitored cities experienced acid rain with a frequency of 75% or above that same year! Seeing how things aren’t getting any better, the figures are probably even worse today.

5. Toxic air in India killed a staggering 1.67 million people in 2019.

(Al Jazeera, Reuters)

Let’s take a look at the pollution in India. Facts reveal a breathtaking truth: breathing the air there will most likely kill you. Polluted air caused approximately 18% of all deaths recorded in the country in 2019.

This is more deaths than AIDS, diabetes, tuberculosis, and cancer put together. It was revealed that in 2020, 15 of the 20 most polluted cities in the world were, in fact, in India.

6. The US pollution statistics show that the country has low PM2.5 exposure levels.

(SOGA 2020)

The US made it to the top ten list of countries with low PM2.5 exposure levels. These countries have less than 8 μg/m3. The US comes right after Australia, Brunei, Canada, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway, and Sweden.

Conversely, countries with the highest mortality rates due to air pollution include China with 1.4 million and India with 980,000 PM2.5 exposure-caused deaths.

Air Pollution Statistics

Understanding what causes air pollution is the first step to finding optimal solutions. Air pollution solutions are either already implemented or in the process of being implemented in hopes of improving the air we breathe.

Unfortunately, in many aspects, the damage is already done. Countless lives have been lost. The statistics below reveal how dangerous the air we breathe can be. As well as the areas where most of the pollution comes from.

7. Outdoor air pollution statistics and graphs show that air pollution is responsible for more than 4.2 million premature deaths a year.

(WHO)

Outdoor air pollution accounts for premature deaths caused by stroke, lung cancer, heart disease, chronic and acute respiratory diseases.

Air pollution affects both developing and developed countries. However, data shows that low and middle-income countries experience the highest impact.

Sadly, 91% of the global population lives in areas where the air quality exceeds healthy limits.

8. One of the positive facts about air pollution is the implementation of the Clean Air Act in 1970 that has improved the quality of air ever since.

(EPA)

This, combined with the latest technological advances, has shown massive improvements in outdoor air quality in the US. The Clean Air Act had a crucial role in reducing air pollution as the economy grew in size.

The EPA works on the state, local, and tribal levels to improve air quality and reduce the emissions of 187 hazardous pollutants that affect the air we breathe.

9. When looking at air pollution in Los Angeles, statistics for 2019 show it is once again the city with the worst ozone pollution in the US.

(SOTA 2020)

According to the State of the Air 2019 report, Los Angeles remains the undisputed leader of the most polluted cities in the US for 20 years straight.

This had a lot to do with the wildfires that ripped through the Western US, affecting Washington, Oregon, and California.

This resulted in increased PM levels. In 2019, Los Angeles had “hazardous” air pollution levels for two days — the highest and unhealthiest level.

10. The city of Delhi had only two good air days in 2019.

(India Today)

What’s worse is that this isn’t a fluke. Pollution statistics from 2020 revealed an improvement from 2018 when Delhi didn’t have any good air days for the entire year.

The average AQI between January 1 and November 4 was 195, which is still lower than 204 back in 2018. This puts the air for that period from “poor” to “moderate.”

11. Pollution statistics from 2020 reveal a 50% PM emission reduction in the EU between 1990 and 2018.

(Eurostat)

There was a considerable decrease in emissions of air pollutants in the EU between 1990 and 2018.

  • Sulfur oxides saw the most significant reduction by 90%.
  • Non-methane volatile organic compounds and nitrous oxides declined by about 60%.
  • Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) saw nearly a 50% reduction over 28 years.
  • Ammonia emissions had the lowest reduction at about 25%.

12. U.S. air pollution statistics show that air pollution from wildfires triggers exacerbations in various diseases.

(EPA)

There are over 25 million people in the US and more than 6 million children with chronic lung disease. This includes asthma and about 16 million people with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

Smoke from wildfires can result in breathing difficulties and may worsen the condition. In turn, this increases the number of hospital admissions and emergency department visits for a variety of chronic lung disease complaints.

13. The asthma prevalence rate has increased by 50% in developed countries as per air pollution facts.

(SRG)

The State of the World Allergy Report revealed that developing countries and urban living areas had increased asthma prevalence dramatically over the last 40 years.

The high industrial activity and development of larger cities expose the population to air pollutants.

Warmer temperatures due to global warming further worsen the situation as it allows plants more time to grow, flower, and produce the pollen grains that many people are allergic to.

What’s more, facts about air pollution show that flowers don’t only pollinate longer, they produce more pollen. That way, they trigger hay fever and many allergic reactions that affect up to 30% of adults and about 40% of children globally.

14. There was a 60% reduction in PM in New Delhi during the Covid-19 pandemic.

(World Economic Forum)

Clearer air and less pollution were the silver lining during the lockdown.

[visualizer id=”5792″]

Although these effects are short-term, many cities around the world saw a decrease in air pollution. New York City had a 25%, São Paulo 32%, and Seoul a staggering 54% PM reduction.

Land Pollution Statistics

There are many forms of land pollution and many ways that it can harm us. The good thing is that many countries worldwide realize how pollution is affecting the soil, land, and waterways. The results of which can be quite devastating.

Today more and more countries are taking action to limit pollution on many levels. The statistics below will help you better understand every aspect of land pollution.

15. World Environment Day tackles the facts about land pollution that we can control.

(UN Environment)

In 2018, World Environment Day focused on plastic pollution affecting the land and waterways. Hosted in India, the first step was to take a pledge to end single-use plastics by the year 2020.

Hundreds of millions of people across over 190 countries took part in the events that included zero-waste marathons and beach cleanups.

16. Soil pollution facts reveal that 82.8% of soil in China is contaminated.

(Reading Junction)

China’s soil is contaminated with pollutants such as arsenic, mercury, lead, and copper. One of the main reasons for this is the continuous population growth.

Cadmium contaminants were found in Guangzhou rice crops. This is a pollutant that causes cancer and kidney failure.

What’s worse, every year, China produces 12 million tons of grain contaminated by heavy metals. This results in serious health issues in the people that consume them.

17. Only a third of the 6.5 trillion cigarettes bought end up in the trash, as per cigarette litter facts.

(National Geographic)

Smokers around the globe buy about 6.5 trillion cigarettes a year, which is about 18 billion daily.

Although a good portion of the cigarette is disintegrated, there is still the filter.

Filters, or cigarette butts, rarely make it to the trash can and are instead often thrown on the ground.  Overall, cigarette butts are made of cellulose acetate — a form of plastic.

Pollution from cigarette butts doesn’t only result in plastic pollution. It also causes heavy metals and nicotine pollution. As well as many other chemicals the butts absorb while the cigarette is being smoked.

Frequently, cigarette butts are mistaken for food by animals. They fill their stomachs with plastic and absorb the chemicals.

18. Statistics on litter reveal that the RSPCA received 5,000 calls a year to report litter.

(RSPCA)

The RSPCA UK receives many calls of people reporting litter. That’s about 14 calls a day. These calls tend to increase over the summer months when people spend more time outside.

It’s essential to understand how common everyday litter can harm animals.

Everything from plastic bags, single-use containers, elastic bands, Chinese lanterns, and balloons could prove detrimental to a wild animal’s health if wrapped around their body or consumed.

19. 2018 was a record year for paper recycling with a 68.1% rate.

(Resource Recycling)

Paper recycling statistics show the recycling rate went down the following year. It reached only 66.2% recycling rate according to the United States pollution statistics.

The main reason for the drop is the sharp decline in recovered paper exports — 13.6%. China’s import restrictions are the main culprit for the recovered paper exports drop.

20. The US produces three times the worldwide average of waste.

(ACT Enviro)

On average, the US produces 1704lbs of junk per person. This includes plastic, food, and hazardous waste, according to the plastic waste statistics. This accounts for 939 million tons of garbage per year, or 12% of Earth’s MSW.

But the rest of the world isn’t much better:

  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Canada
  • France
  • Germany
  • Netherlands
  • Switzerland

are leaders in waste generation. Every year, the world makes enough waste to fill 800,000 Olympic pools. The US may produce the most waste, but it recycles more than the rest of the countries.

21. Every year, $11.5 billion is spent to clean litter worldwide.

(iBanPlastic)

World pollution statistics reveal it costs a lot of money to clean litter. In fact, billions of dollars are allocated annually across the globe to clean it from public places.

If people stopped littering, the funds wasted on cleaning litter would be enough to buy 5kW solar panels for about 300,000 homes. Or solve 40% of the world’s current hunger problem, and so much more.

Imagine the difference several more steps to the nearest trash bin can do.

Water Pollution Statistics

Nearly every piece of garbage we throw on the ground will eventually make it to our waterways, and thus, to our oceans.

The cycle continues as marine life ingests this garbage. Fishermen catch seafood delicacies. Then they end up on our plates, returning that plastic wrapper we dropped on a sidewalk back to us.

It’s essential to understand how water pollution affects the environment, kills marine life, and harms humans.

Plastic is the most significant form of pollution in our waterways. But, chemicals and thermal pollution also have devastating results on the environment, animals, and us.

22. One of the most frightening of all plastic pollution facts is that plastics affect more than 267 marine species.

(iBanPlastic)

Plastic litter affects animals both in the short and long term. It is the cause of death of over a million birds worldwide and about 100,000 marine mammals. The animals die either from being tangled in the plastic or from ingesting it.

Most people know how plastic and litter affect animals. Yet, they continue to throw their trash everywhere except for the one spot it’s supposed to go.

23. China produces 8.8 million metric tons of waste resulting in 3.53 million metric tons of plastic in the oceans.

(Condor Ferries)

Ocean pollution statistics reveal that most plastic comes from litter being dropped on land. It’s also washed down from drains or rivers, thrown on beaches, as well as lousy landfill management.

China may be the most significant contributor, but everyone plays a hand in adding to the rising amount of plastic in the oceans.

Apart from China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and Egypt are also responsible for the majority of the plastic that ends up in the oceans.

24. The BP Deepwater Horizon poured millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico (205.8 to be exact) in 2010.

(Biological Diversity)

One of the most disturbing oil pollution facts in recent history was the BP Deepwater Horizon catastrophe. Apart from the oil, the disaster also resulted in 2 million gallons of toxic dispersants and 225,000 tons of methane spilled into the Gulf.

To date, only 25% of the oil has been recovered, with some 154 million gallons still in the Gulf.

It’s estimated the catastrophe killed approximately 82,000 birds from 102 different species, about 6,165 sea turtles, and 25,900 marine mammals.

It is impossible to determine the number of fish, crabs, oysters, corals, and other sea creatures, but the number is vast indeed.

25. Facts about ocean pollution show there will be more plastic than fish in our oceans by 2050.

(iBanPlastic)

If we continue to handle plastics the way we have thus far, the amount of plastic in the oceans will continue to increase. It’s expected that plastic production will increase by four times by 2050.

Only about 5% of plastic produced is appropriately recycled. As much as 40% makes its way to landfills.

The rest of the plastic is responsible for both land and ocean pollution. 33% of all the plastic produced makes its way to the oceans, whereas 22% pollute the land.

26. Even a 1°C change in temperature can have detrimental effects on an organism.

(Arcadia)

Ocean pollution facts show that thermal pollution is a severe issue.

Any temperature change, particularly abrupt, can result in fish and other organisms’ mass death in the ocean. Thermal pollution changes water quality via a process that alters the overall ambient temperature of the water.

Usually, industrial manufacturers and power plants cause thermal pollution. However, natural causes such as volcanoes can cause it, too.

27. 85% of beach trash is synthetic microfibers.

(Conservation)

Facts about water pollution show that the fashion industry adds to water pollution more than you’d think. Each time we do laundry, more than 700,000 synthetic microfibers go down the drain and end up in the waterways.

Additionally, the fibers from synthetics do not break down as quickly as cotton and wool. As it takes so long for them to decompose, they ultimately reach the oceans. They wash up on shores and beaches, making as much as 85% of all beach trash.

What’s more, animals and fish, many of which we eat, ingest those fibers.

Global Industrial Pollution: Statistics and Facts

Our insatiable need for new things (and lots of it) has resulted in increased industrial pollution.

From the production of clothes to the food we eat, every form of industrial manufacturing creates unbelievable amounts of pollution in the air, land, and water.

The statistics below will give you just a small glimpse into the massive pollution that industries, factories, and farms cause.

28. Factory pollution facts show that 8% to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions are from the fashion industry.

(VOX)

Our unquenchable thirst for the latest fashion trends has resulted in dramatic levels of pollution coming from the fashion industry. Today, the fashion industry pollutes more than both the maritime shipping and aviation industries combined.

Currently, the fashion industry produces anywhere from 80 billion to 150 billion garments globally every year. Within years of being manufactured, around three-fifths of the fashion industry’s products end up in landfills.

29. Manure management is responsible for 14% of all agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in the US alone.

(NRDC)

Air pollution facts reveal that manure from livestock emits ammonia, which is known to combine with other air pollutants such as sulfates and nitrogen oxides.

This combination results in the creation of tiny deadly solid particles. Once inhaled, these particles can cause serious lung and heart disease. It’s estimated they account for about 3.3 million deaths around the world each year.

30. Exposure to particulate matter 2.5 leads to higher mortality from Covid-19.

(Air Quality News)

New research suggests some interesting air pollution facts. Scientists believe that a 1 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 leads to a 7% higher Covid-19 mortality rate.

Researchers have also discovered that a 1ppb increase in ozone concentrations also raises the Covid-19 mortality by 2%.

31. Antibiotics used in meat production contribute to antibiotic resistance.

(NRDC)

About two-thirds of antibiotics manufactured for human use in the US are sold for livestock use rather than for people.

The drugs are placed into factory farm animals’ water and food, as facts about water pollution reveal. Yet, they barely do anything to help them survive the terrible conditions they are kept in.

This overuse of antibiotics results in the proliferation of antibiotics. It’s a resistant bacteria that can quickly spread by air and water. About 162,000 people in the US die each year due to antibiotic-resistant infections resulting from the bacteria.

32. World pollution statistics reveal that 100,000 chemicals are produced commercially.

(Condor Ferries)

Each produced chemical has the potential to pollute oceans. Either through accidents during transport or by leaking into the atmosphere or soil and reaching the waterways.

It’s scary just thinking about it. Yet, even if we’re hundreds of miles away from the nearest significant body of water, products we use daily, in the end, reach the oceans one way or another.

Washing your clothes, discarding medicines improperly, using cleaning products can cause pollution. Be conscious of your use of chemicals and find alternatives whenever possible.

33. Pollution statistics reveal that the nylon production process results in nitrous oxide emission 300 times stronger than carbon dioxide.

(EKOEnergy)

Nylon and polyester add to pollution as they slowly break down while being washed in washing machines. It results in vast amounts of microplastics in the water systems.

Not only do these microplastics pollute water, but they also end up on our plates over time. The consequences of which are still unknown.

The cheaper and lower the quality of the clothing, the faster it breaks down into microplastics. Sadly, apparel seems to be getting cheaper and cheaper with each passing year.

Other Types and Facts on Pollution

There are many sources of pollution that many people don’t think about.

Many of us don’t realize the amount of pollution airplanes cause. The way noise pollution affects animals near urban communities. Or ask ourselves, “how does light pollution affect animals?”

It puts things in perspective and helps us realize that every action we take may result in pollution. Think about the statistics below next time you reserve a luxury cruise or choose your next car.

34. Airport pollution statistics show that in 2019 the flights departing US airports contributed an estimated 85% of passenger transport CO2 emissions.

(ICCT)

A total of 918 million metric tons of CO2 emissions came from commercial flight operations in 2019. Of the emissions coming from US airports, two-thirds of flights were domestic.

Moreover, 37% of all commercial aviation CO2 emissions were linked to narrow-body passenger planes. Further 24% came from wide-body passenger jets.

[visualizer id=”5794″]

19% and 15% CO2 emissions came from premium seating and freight carriage, respectively. And the remaining 5% were from regional passenger planes.

35. Excess light is killing tens of thousands of birds every year in Toronto., recent light pollution facts show.

(National Geographic)

The Fatal Light Awareness Program has estimated that tall buildings in Toronto kill many birds every year.

Many of these deaths happen during the day when birds mistakenly hit windows or are blinded by the glare. But, many still die at night due to artificial lighting.

The majority of these fatalities happen in fall and spring. Artificial lighting in cities affects migratory birds who travel by night and are attracted to urban areas by bright lights.

Consider the results of this study and apply them to every city in North America. The number of birds dying from excess light pollution could reach millions, revealing that light pollution and animals don’t mix well.

36. More interesting facts about pollution: the DNA of baby zebra finches change when parents are exposed to excess noise.

(Smithsonian Magazine)

A study of three groups of 263 zebra finch hatchlings was conducted to answer the question, “how does noise pollution affect animals?”

One of the groups of nesting parents was exposed to continuous noise throughout the breeding and birthing process. This continued 18 days after the hatching as well.

The second group of hatchlings was exposed to noise 18 days after hatching and lasted for 100 days.

The last group was exposed to no noise.

Ultimately, the findings showed that the second group’s hatchlings had the shortest telomeres  — a part of their DNA — of the three groups.

37. Pollution statistics reveal that in 2017, the Carnival Corporation emitted almost ten times more SOX across European coasts than the 260 million cars in Europe.

(Transport Environment)

Furthermore, Royal Caribbean Cruises is the second-largest luxury cruise operator. Yet it still pollutes up to four more than all the cars in Europe.

SOX, or Sulphur oxide, is a form of sulfate aerosols. It increases the number of health risks and contributes to acidification in aquatic and terrestrial environments.

We won’t go further into details of the other forms of pollution that luxury cruise ships are also responsible for.

38. Electric vehicle manufacturing produces approximately 23% more emissions than that of a gas-powered car.

(Green Car Congress)

The US air pollution statistics have revealed that the bigger the vehicle that’s being manufactured, the larger the battery. Or, in other words, the greater the emissions.

Fortunately, due to battery recycling, the decarbonizing of electrical grids, and an increase in battery energy density, emissions from battery manufacturing could be reduced by a whopping 49%.

What’s more, both BMW and Tesla encourage their battery-recycling programs.

They state that even though battery production emissions may be high during production, in the long run, emissions from electric vehicles as a whole are lower than gas-powered cars.

FAQ

39. How much does the average person pollute?

It’s challenging to get an average of how much one person could pollute annually. But, it’s estimated that each American emits over 15 tons of CO2 every year.

This includes the vast majority of actions such as leisure, travel, domestic energy use, commuting, and overall consumption. Every day we make decisions that contribute to our carbon footprint. Still, some cannot be avoided.

40. What causes the most pollution in the world?

The burning of fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal, oil, and gasoline is the biggest culprit for air pollution worldwide.

For the most part, though, industrial activities and manufacturing are the biggest polluters of the air, water, and soil.

41. Which country is the biggest polluter?

China is the biggest contributor to global warming due to having the highest carbon dioxide emissions. They account for about 27.5% of all global CO2 emissions in 2018.

In 2017, the leading countries for CO2 emissions per capita were the US along with Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar.

For overall emissions, China, India, and the US were among the top five biggest emitters, with China in the lead.

42. How can we minimize pollution?

The first step is to be more conscious of our actions and how they affect the world around us. Other small changes you can make (right now) to reduce your carbon footprint are:

  • Commute smart and drive your vehicle less.
  • Reduce or, if possible, eliminate the use of single-use plastics in the household.
  • Buy energy-efficient appliances and don’t leave electronics and lights on when you don’t need them to save energy.
  • Use environmentally friendly cleaning products.
  • Stay informed and participate in cleanups, sign petitions, and do your part to educate both family and friends.

Conclusion

The above-mentioned pollution statistics are just the tip of the iceberg. With each passing day, more research is being done to reveal the real extent of our impact on the environment.

There’s still a slither of hope that we could fix the damage we’ve done (thus far).

The very least we could do is to try and cut the damage. We should take a more conscious stand and reduce all forms of pollution that are within our control.

Sources

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Being a curious perfectionist, Tamara has always been interested in all the little tricks the English language can play on us. Another unique skill of hers is research—if something exists on the internet, she can find it no matter how deep it might be hidden. Plus, having a degree in English language and literature, working on her Ph.D. studies, and having experience in writing, research work, and proofreading, it can be said that she loves a good challenge.

2 comments

  1. Hi, the 41 Alarming Pollution Statistics We Need to Acknowledge article it is well written and was a pleasure to red it.

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