Indians could lose 3.6 years of life due to pollution
India recorded a 19.3% drop in particulate pollution in 2022 compared to 2021, ranking second globally after Bangladesh. This significant drop has added an average of 51 days to every citizen, the annual Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) report by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) said. However, Indians could lose 3.6 years of life expectancy should the nation's PM2.5 concentrations fall short of the World Health Organization's annual target of 5 micrograms per cubic meter.
North India most polluted
North India, home to nearly half a billion people and almost 40% of the country's population, is identified as the most polluted region. Despite a 17.2% decrease in particulate levels in North India in 2022 compared to the previous year, an average resident here could lose about 5.4 years if current pollution levels persist. Michael Greenstone, creator of the AQLI, emphasizes that "high pollution concentrations reflect low ambition in setting policy or a failure to successfully enforce existing policies."
India's air quality: A challenge to WHO guidelines
For over a decade, India's air has been heavily polluted with particulate matter, averaging around 49 ug/m3—more than nine times the WHO's guideline of 5 ug/m3. In 2022, this figure dropped slightly to 41.4 ug/m3. However, all of India's 1.4 billion people continue to live in areas where annual pollution levels exceed WHO guidelines. Additionally, nearly half of Indians reside in regions where pollution levels surpass even the country's own national air quality standard of 40 ug/m3.
Pollution extends beyond North India, affecting other states
The pollution problem is not confined to North India. States like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan are also grappling with high pollution levels. The 292.3 million people living in these states are losing an average of 2.9 years of life expectancy due to the toxic air they breathe daily. In Delhi, where the air is particularly hazardous, residents could gain up to 7.8 years of life if pollution is reduced to safe levels.
Significant declines in particulate pollution offer hope
In 2022, the districts of Purulia and Bankura in West Bengal, and Dhanbad in Jharkhand, witnessed the most significant reductions in particulate pollution. Levels dropped by more than 20 ug/m3 in these areas. If sustained, these reductions could significantly improve air quality for residents. In response to the ongoing crisis, the Indian government launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2019 with an aim to reduce particulate pollution by 20-30% from 2017 levels by 2024.
