Health effects

The World Health Organization states that 2.4 million people die each year from causes directly attributable to air pollution, with 1.5 million of these deaths attributable to indoor air pollution.^[8] "Epidemiological studies suggest that more than 500,000 Americans die each year from cardiopulmonary disease linked to breathing fine particle air pollution. . ."^[9] A study by the University of Birmingham has shown a strong correlation between pneumonia related deaths and air pollution from motor vehicles.^[10] Worldwide more deaths per year are linked to air pollution than to automobile accidents.^{[citation needed]} Published in 2005 suggests that 310,000 Europeans die from air pollution annually.^{[citation needed]} Direct causes of air pollution related deaths include aggravated asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, lung and heart diseases, and respiratory allergies.^{[citation needed]} The US EPA estimates that a proposed set of changes in diesel engine technology (Tier 2) could result in 12,000 fewer premature mortalities, 15,000 fewer heart attacks, 6,000 fewer emergency room visits by children with asthma, and 8,900 fewer respiratory-related hospital admissions each year in the United States