The study associated pollution with 1 in 6 premature deaths, 9 million people in 2015.
Air pollution is the leading culprit, linked to 6.5 million deaths, followed by water pollution, with 1.8 million.
Particulates, toxic chemicals and smog-forming gases result from burning fuel, from dung-fired stoves to coal-burning power plants.
Such pollution promotes asthma, heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer.
Developing nations are much worse off than developed countries, the study found, accounting for 92 percent of the premature deaths globally.
Instead, the authors say, developing nations should look to the United States.
Poor countries struggling to pull their citizens out of poverty may find it tough to take the long view.
The Trump administration is on this basis weakening pollution rules across the board.
The study should remind global leaders that, though there are costs for restricting pollution, there also are costs for failing to do so.
Both sides must be weighed to find the right balance.