India Ranks As Second Most Polluted Country In The World, Life Expectancy Cut Down By 5 Years
India is today the world's second most polluted country, and almost all of India's population lives in areas where the annual average particulate level exceeds the WHO guidelines
India is today the world's second most polluted country, and almost all of India's population lives in areas where the annual average particulate pollution level exceeds the WHO guidelines.
According to an assessment by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, pollution levels in India shave off 5.2 years from the life expectancy of the average Indian and it most acutely hits people living in the Indo-Gangetic plains.
Reuters/Image For Representation
According to the report, 84 per cent Indians live in areas which exceed India's own air quality standard. ¡°A quarter of India's population is exposed to pollution levels not seen in any other country, 248 million residents of northern India on track to lose more than 8 years of life expectancy, if the pollution levels persist¡±, the report said.
India is the second most-polluted country globally after Bangladesh, while Nepal, Singapore and Pakistan are the other top countries with dirty air.
A quarter of India¡¯s population is exposed to pollution levels not seen in any other country. Interested to find out more?@UChiEnergy's #AQLI annual update just got launched.https://t.co/imiWFr9aaT@icareforlungs @cleanairasia @jksmith34 @bahardutt @CBhattacharji @WRIClimate pic.twitter.com/idm52t92ua
¡ª UChicago EPIC India (@EPIC_India) July 28, 2020
Also Read: Over 1,60,000 People May Die Due To Air Pollution In Next Decade. We Need To Wake Up & Act Now
The study notes that particulate pollution in the country has sharply risen by 42 per cent over the last two decades.
In 2018, Lucknow¡¯s (the most polluted district in the country) residents were exposed to an average annual PM 2.5 concentrations of 114.6 micrograms per cubic metres which is likely to cut short life expectancy by 10.3 years compared.
That makes Lucknow the most polluted district in the country followed by 13 other districts, all in Uttar Pradesh.
Reuters/Image For Representation
The report said India's capital city Delhi is also highly polluted, noting the residents of Delhi can prolong their lives by 9.4 years if the pollution in the capital were to reduce to meet the WHO guideline, and 6.5 years if the pollution met India's national standard.
Also Read: Air Pollution From Fossil Fuels Costs India $150 Billion & Kills One Million People Each Year
¡°Since 1998, average annual participation pollution has increased 42 per cent, cutting 1.8 years off the life of the average resident over these years,¡± the report said.
Developed by the University of Chicago¡¯s Milton Friedman Dinstinguished Service Professor in Economics Michael Greenstone and his team at the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC), the AQLI is based on research that quantifies the causal relationship between long-term human exposure to air pollution and life expectancy.
India is today the world¡¯s second most polluted country, where the #airquality is so poor it's shortening the average Indian lifespan by ?.? ?????.
¡ª CarbonCopy (@carboncopyinfo) July 28, 2020
See the latest #AQLI report by @UChiEnergy @EPIC_India: https://t.co/6FxW0YSXiP pic.twitter.com/KvDY8mQMBz
This new analysis also comes after a United Nations policy brief said that while levels of nitrogen dioxide fell by more than 70 per cent during the lockdown in New Delhi, the environmental gains could be temporary.
Up to 54% reduction of air pollutants in 5 Indian cities amidst #COVID©`19 crisis - @UniOfSurrey, @AirPollSurrey researchers.
¡ª UChicago EPIC India (@EPIC_India) July 28, 2020
?https://t.co/79DrK5Y2Tw@pk_shishodia #COVID #coronavirus @Brikesh @Bharati09 @SFotonium @cleanairnetwork @StopTheSoot @CitiesGRPUoW @CareForAirIndia pic.twitter.com/rBC74ch9WD
¡°Though the threat of coronavirus is grave and deserves every bit of the attention it is receiving¡ª perhaps more in some places¡ªembracing the seriousness of air pollution with a similar vigour would allow billions of people around the world to lead longer and healthier lives,¡± said Michael Greenstone, the Milton Friedman distinguished service professor in Economics and creator of the AQLI along with colleagues at the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC).
Over 20 years, India¡¯s annual PM 2.5 levels have increased by 42%, taking 1.8 years off the life of the average resident.
Also Read: India's Air Pollution Has Dropped 40-50 Percent Since Coronavirus Lockdown
A quarter of India¡¯s population is exposed to air pollution concentrations not recorded in any other country, with 248 million people in north India on track to lose more than eight years of life expectancy if the same pollution levels persist.
All Inputs ET
