Fossil Fuels Deaths: Facts, Stats, and Trends

The Industrial Revolution of the late 18th century marked the evolution of agrarian and manual labour-based production to industrial and machine-based production. The foundation of the revolution was the adoption of fossil fuels, which exponentially increased energy availability, production capacity, and economic growth.

This revolution spread from Europe to Eastern North America and eventually the rest of the world, but the price was steep. The adoption of fossil fuels laid the foundation for today’s major environmental challenges, including air pollution, climate change, and resource depletion.

This article will explore the environmental effects of fossil fuels and review previous studies on outdoor fine particulate matter. It will also examine steps to reduce fossil fuel dependency and the possibility of adopting clean energy alternatives in the coming years.

What Are Fossil Fuels?

Fossil fuels are naturally existing energy sources made from the decomposition of organic matter buried beneath the Earth’s crust. Basically, fossil fuels are plants, animals and organisms that existed millions of years ago that have been subjected to the heat, pressure and time beneath the surface of the earth.

The main types of fossil fuels include:

• Coal: This is a solid fuel formed from the remains of plant matter. It was initially used to power steam engines after James Watt’s improvements to the steam engine in the late 1700s. Coal revolutionized the mining, textile and transportation industries in the 18th century;

• Oil: Also known as petroleum, is derived from the remains of marine organisms like zooplankton and algae. The invention of the internal combustion engine popularized the use of petroleum in the early 19th century. Petroleum is used in transportation and heat production;

• Natural Gas: Formed from the decomposition of organic matter. It is a gaseous fuel composed mainly of methane and is used for cooking, heating and electricity.

Fossil fuels are non-renewable. This means that their reserves can be depleted and cannot be replenished naturally within a human timeframe. Fossil fuels have powered industrialisation and modern life for decades, but they also emit greenhouse gases and pollutants, making them major contributors to fossil fuel pollution and various adverse health outcomes.

Why Fossil Fuels Are a Public Health Issue

Fossil fuels are a public health concern because their extraction, processing and use contribute significantly to public health issues like air pollution, climate change and fossil fuel deaths. Fossil fuels impact public health in various ways, including:

Air Pollution

According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, air pollution is responsible for 6.5 million deaths each year globally. Specific air pollution sources include man-made sources such as transportation, industrial, household, construction, agricultural, etc, natural sources such as lightning, volcanoes, wildfires, dust, sandstorms, etc.

Burning fossil fuels releases hazardous pollutants like particulate matter, ground-level ozone, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides. Air pollutants are linked to cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, stroke, premature deaths and developmental issues in children.

Climate Change

Burning of fossil fuels is the major contributor to climate change, which drives global warming. According to the United Nations, the average temperature of the Earth’s surface is now about 1.2°C warmer than it was before the Industrial Revolution. Climate change goes from warmer temperatures to many health impacts.

Some diseases that are attributed to fossil fuel use include:

• Heat-related illnesses and deaths;
• Increased vector-borne diseases like malaria, dengue, etc;
• Food and water insecurity due to agricultural disruption;
• Mental health challenges due to climate-related displacement or disasters.

Other impacts of fossil fuels on public health include occupational hazards, health inequalities in low and middle-income countries, soil and water contamination from mining activities, etc. Rising average global annual concentrations of air pollutants from fossil fuels continue to make them a growing public health concern.

Environmental Impacts of Fossil Fuels

The environmental impacts of fossil fuels leave lasting carbon footprints in the atmosphere. From the release of greenhouse gases that drive climate change to the degradation of air, water, and soil quality, burning fossil fuels contributes significantly to global health.

Here are some of the environmental impacts of fossil fuels:

• Land degradation – The process of collecting the underground deposits of coal, gas, and oil can take a significant toll on not only the landscapes, but also the ecosystems of those lands. Strip mining can destroy forests and mountains, leaching nutrients from the land, and leaving it bare. Wildlife can be killed, their habitats destroyed, and their primary nutrient sources depleted. Animals are forced into less-than-ideal new habitats and end up suffering because they’re competing for resources with other wildlife;

• Emissions: Burning fossil fuels releases an enormous amount of pollutants into the air, leading to exposure to toxic air pollution that can increase the risk of diseases like leukaemia, blood disorders, and respiratory conditions. The reduction of trees (by strip mining and deforestation) can also release massive amounts of carbon and decrease natural oxygen production;

• Water pollution: The collection of gas, oil, and coal can lead to pollution of the water systems in our world, from both acid runoff and oil spills or leaks. Toxic fluids can leak into the water, jeopardising not only freshwater but even the ocean. All of the mining, drilling, and fracking operations can pollute the water with heavy metals and radioactive particles, contaminating the water supply (as was the case in Flint, Michigan);

• Global warming: Rising temperatures around the globe can cause harmful climate change, accelerating the global warming crisis.

The environmental impact of fossil fuels is undeniably dangerous. This is why organisations like the Wallace Global Fund are committed to supporting projects that focus on environmental protection and climate change advocacy. The Environment and Health Fund also funds initiatives focused on environmental issues and public health.

Health Consequences of Fossil Fuel Use

The use of fossil fuels for power generation has done as much harm as good. Using a new risk assessment model and population data, researchers found that outdoor fine particle pollution significantly impacted human health, increased health risks, and led to more patients requiring admission for major diseases.

In addition, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency has previously reported that “fossil fuel combustion in the U.S, particularly from coal and natural gas, results in significant health costs, estimated to be between $361 and $886 billion annually.” This means that fossil fuel is not just a public health issue but also a major economic burden on the health system.

Other health consequences of fossil fuel use include respiratory diseases, high global mortality rates, mental and cognitive impairments, especially in children, heat-related diseases due to climate change, etc.

Severe health impacts occur as a result of both short- and long-term exposure to various pollutants. The danger is that for some of these pollutants, there are no minimal levels of exposure where adverse effects do not occur.

Fossil Fuels and Global Mortality Rates

According to the World Health Organisation, “more than 99% of the population live in areas where the air pollution is above World Health Organisation (WHO) air quality guidelines and 4.2 million deaths are attributed to ambient air pollution each year.”

“Household air pollution was responsible for an estimated 3.2 million deaths per year in 2020, including over 237,000 deaths of children under the age of 5. The combined effects of ambient air pollution and household air pollution are associated with 6.7 million premature deaths annually.”

Various studies have shown a high prevalence of fossil fuel-related deaths over the years. In 1963, fossil fuels, including natural gas, crude oil, plant liquids, and coal, accounted for roughly 93% of America’s energy production. Thankfully, over the decades, that use has decreased slightly. In 2019, it was estimated that fossil fuel usage had decreased to 80%, a bit lower, but still high enough that it accounts for the majority of the domestic energy production.

According to a 2021 study, the prevalence of fossil fuel-related deaths was 3.83 million globally. 63% of the attributable deaths were primarily from ischemic heart disease and stroke, followed by lung cancer, lower respiratory infections, and type 2 diabetes. In addition, there were a total of 2.07 million attributable incidences of neonatal deaths. The researchers concluded, “complete elimination of coal and (oil and natural gas) combustion in these two countries could reduce the global PM2.5 (pollution) disease burden by nearly 20 per cent.”

“New research from Harvard University, in collaboration with the University of Birmingham, the University of Leicester and University College London, found that more than 8 million people died in 2018 from fossil fuel pollution”. This research directly attributes premature deaths from fine particulate pollution (PM 2.5) to fossil fuel combustion.

Air pollution from fossil fuels affects global health and is of great public health concern. In addition to the global burden of disease, fossil fuel combustion is a major driver of climate change, which weakens health systems worldwide by increasing global mortality through extreme weather events, food insecurity, and infectious disease outbreaks.

Steps to Reduce Fossil Fuel Dependency

Air pollution and the health impacts of fossil fuels have shown that it is time to replace fossil fuel dependency. An abrupt end to the use of fossil fuels may not be possible, but the following steps may get us closer to cleaner air and a safer world.

What steps can we take? Here are some:

• Use renewable energy Sources: Connect your home to electricity providers that utilise wind and solar energy, or consider installing wind or solar energy generators in your own home to provide power;

• Drive greener: Consider switching to an electric vehicle, or at least opting for an economical vehicle that gets a higher mileage-per-gallon. Replace older vehicles with newer, cleaner models. Do proper maintenance and car care to ensure you’re getting optimum performance from your fuel;

• Find alternate transportation. Ride the bus. Ride a bike. Carpool. Walk to work or the store. Find ways to get around that don’t involve you burning fuel;

• Reduce energy consumption at home. Turn off lights, close your fridge doors, regulate the AC or turn down the heat. Use energy-saving appliances and energy-efficient light bulbs. Find ways to decrease your at-home power usage.

It’s not going to be easy, but you must take steps to help our country reduce dependence on fossil fuels. After all, those fossil fuels are putting your health at risk, and it truly is in your power to take steps to save the planet!

The Future of Clean Energy Alternatives

There is still a promising future for clean energy alternatives as the world gradually moves to alternative energy sources. Clean energy, also known as renewable energy, refers to natural sources of energy like sunlight and wind, which can be replenished. Phasing out fossil fuels, especially in the ground transportation and industrial sectors, is a critical step in achieving clean energy.

The adoption of clean energy alternatives is only feasible if we continue to propagate the information about the dangers of fossil fuels. The University of Birmingham Global Challenge Initiative is one such platform that is dedicated to addressing climate change through education, research and advocacy.

As we work toward reducing environmental pollutants on a global scale, it’s just as important to protect your own body from the toxins we’re already exposed to every day. Supporting your liver and kidneys—the body’s primary detox organs—is a smart step toward maintaining long-term health in today’s modern world.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the largest contributor to burning fossil fuels?

The energy sector, particularly electricity generation and transport, is the largest contributor to burning fossil fuels.

Why are fossil fuels bad?

Fossil fuels are bad because their extraction, processing and combustion produce more health and environmental risks than their benefits.

What are the shocking statistics about fossil fuels?

Fossil fuel combustion is responsible for over 1 million deaths globally.

References

Industrial Revolution

Oil and petroleum products explained

Fossil fuels: What are they, applications and environmental impact

Fossil Fuel Energy

Fossil fuel air pollution responsible for 1 in 5 deaths worldwide

Global mortality from outdoor fine particle pollution generated by fossil fuel combustion: Results from GEOS-Chem

Fact Sheet | Climate, Environmental, and Health Impacts of Fossil Fuels (2021)

Fossil fuels and climate change: the facts

Sources and Solutions: Fossil Fuels

Air quality, energy and health

Household air pollution

‘Invisible killer’: fossil fuels caused 8.7m deaths globally in 2018, research finds

Ambient (outdoor) air pollution

Air pollution: The invisible health threat

Fossil Fuels: The Dirty Facts

Air Pollution and Your Health

Where Does Air Pollution Come From?

Pollution and health: a progress update

Understanding the health impacts of the climate crisis

What Is Climate Change?

Wallace Global Fund

Global Fund Unveils Pioneering Climate and Health Fund to Accelerate Global Action

Air pollution deaths attributable to fossil fuels: observational and modelling study

The Future of Clean Energy Alternatives

Renewables

Renewable energy – powering a safer future