• Air Pollution Cuts Indians' Life Expectancy by 5 Years: Report

    Environment
    Air Pollution Cuts Indians' Life Expectancy by 5 Years: Report
    Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, and Tripura are currently among the top five most polluted states, the data reported.

    Digital Desk: A new study by the University of the major health threats, a new study by the University of Chicago said. The country's life expectancy is falling by five years as a result of hazardous air pollutants.

    According to the Energy Policy Institute's Air Quality Life Index, pollution in Delhi is shortening lives by about ten years.

    Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, and Tripura are currently among the top five most polluted states, the data reported.

    Moreover, India is the second-most polluted country in the world, after Bangladesh, where air pollution shortened life expectancy by 6.9 years in 2020. India's neighbours, Nepal and Pakistan, are also suffering from air pollution, which has reduced life expectancy by 4.1 and 3.8 years, respectively.

    According to the study, particle air pollution reduces the worldwide average life expectancy by 2.2 years, resulting in a total loss of 17 billion life years.

    The report said that if current pollution levels continue, 40 per cent of Indians residing in the Indo-Gangetic plains will lose 7.6 years of life expectancy. If pollution continues, people in Lucknow may lose 9.5 years of life expectancy.

    South Asia is the region with the highest levels of air pollution. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal are still among the world's top five polluted countries. More than half (52%) of the predicted lost life years in the world are due to high pollution levels in the region.

    Due to its high particle pollution concentrations and big population, India has the highest health burden from air pollution. Particulate pollution levels have risen from 53 micrograms per cubic metre in 2013 to 56 micrograms per cubic metre today, which is almost 11 times the WHO limit.

    China is set to lose 2.5 years of life expectancy, but it has gained two years since 2013 thanks to lower pollution levels. Between 2013 and 2020, the country experienced the greatest reduction in air pollution, with PM2.5 levels falling by 55%, from 85 to 38 micrograms per cubic metre in just seven years. Beijing's pollution decreased by 8.7% from 2019 to 2020.