The passing of any individual is a sobering moment, and cause for reflection.
Estimates are always useful, and it is interesting to compare this with the greater picture.
The abstract does illustrate the risks of modern technology and potential for hidden impacts!
VolksWaggen were caught out seriously, for something that should never have occurred.
Fortunately for VW perhaps they are not facing 1,200 claims for compensation in court and billion dollar payouts for each life lost. Although VW were required to provide alternate restitution to the owners of the vehicles and who caused the increased levels of emissions every time they used their VWs. Perhaps the owners are also fortunate to not be in court also being pursued, as once the problem was public, continued use of their vehicles would have added to the emissions. However there was no sudden ban on VW’s continuing to be used despite the non-compliant and higher emissions.
Not quite the most recent data (but relevant to the last year referenced in the abstract on premature deaths).
For the EU at 1st Jan 2017 the total population was estimated at 511.8M
The deaths during the previous year 2016 were estimated to be 5.130M
The median estimate of premature deaths due to excess VW emissions was 0.0012M
It is sobering that not all of the 5 million were due to VolksWaggen. It does however demonstrate the magnitude of the problem facing the EU in improving lifespan with more than 5 million improvement opportunities every year. It would be an interesting separate topic for those with a special interest in ageing and the contributing factors to premature death. What more can be done?
Australia’s task is fortunately not as numerically large, but no doubt equally challenging?
Ref only.
