Fossil fuel combustion, a major source of air pollution, contributed to more than one million deaths globally in 2017, more than 27% of all deaths from outdoor fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ), according to a new report published by the Health Effects Institute (HEI). Coal combustion alone was responsible for half of those deaths, with natural gas and oil combustion accounting for the other half. The burning of solid biofuels, such as wood for indoor heating and cooking, is another major source of PM 2.5 , accounting for an additional 740,000 deaths, especially across South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. HEI initiated the Global Burden of Disease from Major Air Pollution Sources ( GBD MAPS ) global project to provide a comprehensive understanding of sources contributing the most to outdoor PM 2.5 pollution and its health impacts. The data are aimed at supporting the active development of targeted air […]