Background-The burning of fossil fuels, especially coal and diesel, is a major source of
airborne fine particulate matter (PM2. 5), and air quality has been implicated as key
contributor to the global burden of mortality and disease. We aimed to undertake a global
assessment of mortality associated with air pollution from fossil fuel combustion among adult
population. We also estimated mortality due to lower respiratory infections (LRI) among
children under the age of five in North America, South America and Europe. Methods-Global …

The burning of fossil fuels–especially coal, petrol, and diesel–is a major source of airborne
fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), and a key contributor to the global burden of mortality and
disease. Previous risk assessments have examined the health response to total PM 2.5, not
just PM 2.5 from fossil fuel combustion, and have used a concentration-response function
with limited support from the literature and data at both high and low concentrations. This
assessment examines mortality associated with PM 2.5 from only fossil fuel combustion …