Pollution is killing more than 16,000 Brits each year, experts have warned.
New figures show that 92 per cent of people across the world are living in places where the air is substandard.
Some 16,355 people died in the UK due to outdoor air pollution in 2012, research from the World Health Organisation showed.
These included deaths from conditions such as lung cancer and stroke.
The new WHO data gives detailed estimates on the number of deaths linked to air pollutants from vehicles, industries and household fuel.
In Britain it is estimated that more than 7,300 people died from ischaemic heart disease linked to outdoor air pollution during 2012.
In the same year, almost 5,000 died from lung cancer and 3,700 died from strokes.
More than 400 died from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, while acute lower respiratory disease accounted for 12 deaths.
Across the world, one out of every nine deaths was the result of air pollution-related conditions in 2012, the report states.
The 11 countries with the most deaths from air pollution
Turkmenistan
Tajikistan
Uzbekistan
Afghanistan
Egypt
Kazakhstan
India
Iraq
Saudi Arabia
Myanmar
Russia
Air pollution was the sole cause of about three million deaths.
Most air pollution-related deaths occur in low and middle-income countries.
Dr Flavia Bustreo, assistant director general at WHO said: “Air pollution continues to take a toll on the health of the most vulnerable populations - women, children and the older adults.
"For people to be healthy, they must breathe clean air from their first breath to their last."
Fumes from vehicles, power plants and homes are some of the biggest contributors to pollution.
