Globally, what percentage of deaths are attributed to environmental causes?

• A. 10%
• B. 23%
• C. 45%
• D. 5%

Answer: (B)

Environmental determinants account for a substantial share of global mortality. Exposures to polluted air, unsafe water and sanitation, hazardous chemicals, poor housing, occupational hazards, and climate-related factors raise the risk for cardiovascular diseases, respiratory infections, cancers, injuries, and other causes of death. Global burden of disease assessments estimate that about twenty-three percent of deaths can be attributed to environmental causes. This aligns with the understanding that environmental risks contribute a large, but not majority, portion of mortality, with air pollution alone causing millions of deaths each year and other environmental factors adding to that burden. The other options either underestimate or overestimate the impact, making twenty-three percent the best reflection of current evidence.