9 million is the number of premature deaths attributed to outdoor air pollution, water and workplaces in 2015.

An alarming figure, revealed in a report published by the very serious medical journal The Lancet, Thursday, October 19, 2017.

For comparison, it is "three times more deaths than AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined, and fifteen times more than those caused by wars and all other forms of violence," explain the scientists.

Air pollution, whether indoor or outdoor, would therefore cause 6.5 million deaths (heart disease, stroke, cancer) each year while that of water is responsible for gastrointestinal diseases among other things, and would result in 1.8 million deaths. Finally, pollution in the workplace would represent nearly 800 000 deaths.

In France, the population, and particularly the inhabitants of the Ile-de-France region, are frequently confronted with unusually high peaks of outdoor pollution .

A stale air, which would be responsible for 48,000 deaths in France each year.

Air pollution: what are the risks for health?

The presence of fine particles in the air can cause the appearance of many symptoms more or less serious depending on the health conditions of each.

As a result, according to a study * of Public Assistance - Paris Hospitals made public on December 8, 2016, consultations in pediatric respiratory emergencies in Paris are increasing - between November 30 and December 7, 2016, 2,045 patients aged less of 18 years consulted for respiratory diseases, against 1,516 last year.

They would also have "highlighted a potential 50% increase in the diagnosis of asthma in children from a certain level of fine particles in the air".

But children are not the only ones affected by the poor quality of the air and its harmful effects on health.

In the short term, pregnant women, people with asthma and / or suffering from cardiovascular or respiratory pathologies and the elderly are also the most exposed to an increase in allergic symptoms, irritation of the eyes, throat, nose, asthma attacks, shortness of breath, coughing.

In the long term, pollution can be responsible for worsening asthma and respiratory diseases.

Some health recommendations to apply in case of a pollution spike

• Limit physical activity and intense sports, even indoors.

• Avoid traveling during peak hours and on major highways.

• Consult a doctor without delay as soon as you feel breathing problems or wheezing.

• Contrary to popular belief, it is useless to caulk at home. On the contrary, it is important to air morning or early evening between twenty and thirty minutes per day, since indoor pollution is more important than outdoor pollution.

* www.aphp.fr/actualite/liens-entre-asthme-et-pollution-le-point-sur-les-travaux-menes-lap-hp