The Burden of Pollution: Trends in Life Expectancy and Health Disparities in the Asia-Pacific region

Abstract

The detrimental effects of environmental issues on human health have become a critical focus for the global public health community. At the heart of these challenges lies pollution-a consequence of human activity that disrupts natural ecosystems and profoundly affects populations. Pollution not only contributes to environmental degradation but also influences key demographic processes such as fertility, migration, and mortality. Despite the evident intersection of environmental factors and population health, the field of demography has traditionally focused less on the health outcomes and mortality caused by pollution compared to other scientific disciplines. Demographers, as experts in studying population dynamics and structural changes, have the potential to provide valuable insights into how environmental changes influence mortality and public health. By applying demographic methods and concepts, it is possible to uncover patterns and trends that inform more effective public policy planning to address these challenges. This thesis aims to enhance the understanding of mortality and morbidity burdens caused by pollution across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region through the application of advanced demographic methodologies. It offers a novel and comprehensive analysis to quantify the life-years and healthy years lost due to pollution in the region, providing critical evidence to guide public health interventions and inform policy development aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of environmental degradation on human populations. The thesis is structured into seven chapters. The first chapter introduces the project and its significance. Chapters 2 investigate the effects of multiple pollutants (air, earth, and water) on mortality and morbidity in the Asia-Pacific region. Chapter 3 focuses on cause-specific mortality attributable to indoor and outdoor air pollution, exploring disparities in mortality by social and economic groups in both the APAC and European regions. Chapter 4 examines sex differences in life-years lost and unhealthy years attributable to air pollution in APAC region. Chapter 5 investigates the factors influencing global women's health due to household air pollution. Chapter 6 analyse subnational life-years lost due to fine particulate matter in Australia from 2001-2019. Finally, chapter 7 provides a concluding synthesis of findings. Supplementary materials include R programming code developed during the doctoral studies to facilitate the continuation of this research. The findings of this research emphasise the importance of applying demographic methodologies to address global environmental health challenges. By providing detailed insights into the impacts of pollution on human health, this work highlights the need for targeted, data-driven policies and interventions. Furthermore, it underscores the critical role of interdisciplinary research in advancing public health and mitigating the effects of environmental degradation on vulnerable populations.