Air Quality Life Index: Indians losing 5 years of life due to air pollution: Study

What is the News?

The Air Quality Life Index has been released.

What is the Air Quality Life Index?

Produced by: Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago(EPIC) 

Purpose: The index converts air pollution concentrations into their impact on life expectancy. From this, the public and policymakers alike can determine the benefits of air pollution policies in perhaps the most important measure that exists: longer lives.

What are the key findings of the index?

Global findings

Globally, air pollution reduces 2.2 years of life expectancy. This impact on life expectancy is comparable to that of smoking, more than three times that of alcohol use and unsafe water, six times that of HIV/AIDS and 89 times that of conflict and terrorism.

South Asia stands to lose the most in terms of life expectancy. It accounts for more than half (52%) of the expected lost life years globally due to high pollution.

Findings related to India

Of all the countries in the world, India faces the highest health burden of air pollution.

The average Indian resident is set to lose five years of life expectancy if the WHO guidelines are not followed.

Delhi, the most polluted megacity in the world stands to lose 10 years of life expectancy if the current air pollution level persists.

The Indo-Gangetic plains, home to more than 50 crore people or about 40% of the country’s population, are the most polluted region in India. 

Reasons for Rise in Air Pollution in India: The study attributed the rise in air pollution in India to the industrialisation, economic development and population growth over the last two decades which have led to skyrocketing energy demand and fossil fuel use.

Source: The post is based on the article “Indians losing 5 years of life due to air pollution: Study” published in TOI on 15th June 2022.