A new study has exposed the grave toll that air pollution is taking on the residents of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, often dubbed the most polluted city in the world. According to the 2023 Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) report by the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute, Delhi’s citizens are experiencing a staggering reduction in life expectancy by 11.9 years due to the alarming levels of pollution.
The report’s findings illuminate the dire state of air quality in India, which stands as the world’s second most polluted country. Drawing from PM2.5 data derived from satellites for the year 2021, the study reveals a disconcerting rise in pollution levels from 2020 to 2021, with the average particulate pollution increasing to 58.7 micrograms per cubic meter of air.
This far exceeds the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended guideline of 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, painting a grim picture of the prevailing pollution crisis.
Regrettably, the report highlights that every single one of India’s 1.3 billion inhabitants resides in areas marked by an annual average particulate pollution level. Shockingly, 67.4% of the population resides in regions that surpass India’s own national air quality standard of 40 micrograms per cubic meter of air.
Delving deeper into the statistics, the study exposes that Delhi’s annual average PM2.5 level in 2021 soared to levels that are over 25 times the WHO guideline. The dire situation in 2020 was only slightly better at 107 micrograms per cubic meter of air. The report underscores the drastic implications of this crisis by revealing that if India were to meet WHO’s guideline, residents of Delhi could gain an incredible 11.9 years in life expectancy.
Furthermore, the study reveals a disconcerting trend of increasing particulate pollution over time. From 1998 to 2021, average annual particulate pollution surged by 67.7%, resulting in an additional 2.3-year reduction in average life expectancy. Astonishingly, between 2013 and 2021, 59.1% of the global increase in pollution has emanated from India.
Particulate pollution (PM2.5) emerges as the gravest health threat in India, cutting an average of 5.3 years from the life expectancy of an individual. In contrast, cardiovascular diseases lead to an average reduction of about 4.5 years, while child and maternal malnutrition result in a 1.8-year decline.
The report’s findings also underscore the alarming impact of air pollution on the Northern Plains, including Bihar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. If current pollution levels persist, the 521.2 million people residing in this region are on track to lose an average of 8 years of life expectancy relative to the WHO guideline and 4.5 years relative to the national standard.
The study’s revelations cast a sobering light on the urgent need to address air quality issues and implement measures to safeguard the health and longevity of the population, particularly in highly affected areas like Delhi.
