thegreatdivide wrote on Sep 15
th, 2022 at 12:29pm:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/09/fossil-fuels-pollution-death...
'Invisible killer': fossil fuels caused 8.7m deaths globally in 2018, research finds
Yep. A statistical study. From the paper -
"We used the chemical transport model GEOS-Chem to
estimate global exposure levels to fossil-fuel related PM2.5 in 2012. Relative risks of mortality were modeled using functions that link long-term exposure to PM2.5 and mortality, incorporating nonlinearity in the concentration response. We
estimate a global total of 10.2 (95% CI: −47.1 to 17.0) million premature deaths annually attributable to the fossil-fuel component of PM2.5. The greatest mortality impact is
estimated over regions with substantial fossil fuel related PM2.5, notably China (3.9 million), India (2.5 million) and parts of eastern US, Europe and Southeast Asia. The
estimate for China predates substantial decline in fossil fuel emissions and decreases to 2.4 million premature deaths due to 43.7% reduction in fossil fuel PM2.5 from 2012 to 2018 bringing the global total to 8.7 (95% CI: −1.8 to 14.0) million premature deaths. We also
estimated excess annual deaths due to LRI in children (0–4 years old) of 876 in North America, 747 in South America, and 605 in Europe. "
Statistics can't find a cause of death, only an autopsy does that.
Edit: you will also find the term model.