INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
often labelled the most polluted city in the world, by as much as 11.9 years when compared to the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards
the University of Chicago (EPIC).However, an average Indian could lose 1.8 years of life expectancy and a Delhi resident up to 8.5 years if
pollution shortening lives by 11.2 years in Gurgaon, 10.8 years in Faridabad, 10.1 years in Jaunpur (Uttar Pradesh), 9.7 years each in
Lucknow and Kanpur, 9.2 years in Muzaffarpur (Bihar), 8.8 years in Prayagraj (UP) and 8.7 years in Patna.The report flags that all of
says particulate pollution is the greatest threat to human health in India with cardiovascular diseases reducing the average life expectancy
by about 4.5 years, followed by child and maternal malnutrition (1.8 years).Globally, air pollution (PM2.5) remains the most significant
external risk to human health, reducing the average life expectancy by 2.3 years as per the WHO standards
The life expectancy loss figures, however, vary if one considers country-specific national ambient air quality standards, taking into
three times that of alcohol use and unsafe water, more than 5 times that of transport injuries like car crashes, and more than 7 times that
EPIC.In South Asia, particulate pollution has increased 9.7% from 2013 to 2021, which AQLI estimates reduced life expectancy in the region
by an additional 6 months
In India, PM2.5 levels rose 9.5%; in Pakistan 8.8%; and in Bangladesh by 12.4% during this period.In 2022, AQLI that factored in the annual
life expectancy on average relative to the WHO guideline and 4.5 years relative to the national standard if current pollution levels
