Abstract

Objectives: Air pollution is one of biggest environmental health problems and is responsible for 11.7% of deaths. It was aimed at examining the relationship between gross domestic product (GDP), the percentage of access to clean fuels, PM2.5 level, air pollution death rates.

Materials and Methods: This study is a correlational study. Data for 208 countries for 1990-2019 were accessed from “Our World in Data” web page in April-May 2023. Comparisons were made according to World Bank income groups.

Results: GDP per capita had a very strong positive correlation with percentage of access to clean/technological fuels (r=0.915), and a very strong negative correlation with indoor air pollution death rate (r=-0.914). There was a moderate negative correlation between GDP per capita and PM2.5 (r=-0.470). The average PM2.5 level had a moderate negative correlation with percentage of access to clean/technological fuel (r=-0.445), a moderate positive correlation with indoor air pollution death rate (r=0.433), and a strong positive correlation with outdoor air pollution death rate (r=0.602).

Conclusion: The percentage of access to clean/technological fuels has increased over the years, indoor air pollution death rate has decreased. It has been almost completely eradicated in high-income countries, but remains in low-income countries. By encouraging clean/technological heating and cooking methods, indoor air pollution death rate will no longer be a problem in any country. On the other hand, outdoor air pollution death rate is higher in countries with high PM2.5 levels. If policymakers reduce coal, oil consumption and prioritize clean energy, transportation, they can improve air quality by lowering PM2.5 levels.