A new study reviewed in National Geographic, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/meat-production-leads-to-thousands-of-air-quality-related-deaths-annually, has estimated the number of deaths from air pollution caused by all agriculture is around 17,900 per year, 80% (or 16,000) caused by meat and dairy production.
The study “is the first to identify which individual foods and diets have the biggest effect on the air pollution that causes asthma, heart attacks, and strokes.”
The data analyzed for this study was from the EPA and US Dept. of Agriculture. Naturally, meat and dairy industry groups are disputing the findings, although they don’t have data of their own.
Of the possible solutions reviewed, a plant based of minimal meat diet is estimated to reduce these deaths by 10,000-13,000. Not perfect, but still one more reason to take up a plant based diet.