Air Pollution in China Causes 1.1 Million Deaths Every Year, Study Says

Two air pollutants, PM2.5 and ground-level ozone, are responsible for the annual deaths of 1.1 million people and billions in economic damage in China.

A woman wears a mask to protect against pollution as they wait to cross the street in heavy smog on Dec. 8, 2015 in Beijing, China. Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

Two air pollutants, PM2.5 and ground-level ozone, are responsible for the deaths of 1.1 million people annually in China, and cause economic damage worth 267 billion yuan ($38.8 billion), according to new research conducted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).

Among the estimated yearly deaths are about 1,000 Hong Kong residents.