Rising air pollution is taking people’s breath away. The standard of clean air that the WHO has set for life is deplorable in India.
As a result, the average age of Indians has dropped to 5.2 years. This means that a person can live an average of 5 years less than his or her life.
Not only that, but the air quality has also fallen far short of the standards set by India itself. Even so, the average age has dropped by 2.3 years.
84% of the country’s population lives in areas where pollution levels are many times higher than Indian standards.
No other country in the world has as much pollution as a quarter of the population suffers every day.
This was in line with research by Professor Milton Friedben of the University of Chicago and his team on the “Impact of Air Pollution on Life”.
Based on this, the Energy Policy Institute of the University prepared the Air Quality Life Index of India.
In India, the level of dust and particulate matter in the air has increased by 42% as compared to 1998.
Particulate matter (PM) reaches the body and makes people sick. The report warns that the average age will worsen if health care is not improved.
If the current situation is maintained, the average age of people in the most populous UP will be reduced to 8 years.
Pollution in Lucknow is 11 times higher than WHO standards. People here seem to be losing 10.3 years of their lives.
If the air quality in Delhi reaches the level of WHO standards, the age of the people here can be increased to 9.4 years and if the indigenous standards are improved, it can increase to 6.5 years.
India is the second most polluted country in the world. In 2019, the Center had set a target of reducing air pollution by 20 to 30% by 2024 under the National Clean Air Program (NCAP).
If that happens, the life expectancy (age) at the national level could increase by 1.6 years and the average age of the people of Delhi by 3.1 years.
Improvements in air quality and health systems can increase the average age by 3.1 years
84% of the country’s population is forced to live in areas where India has more pollution than its air quality standards. The age also dropped to two years by Indian standards.
No other country in the world has as much pollution as a quarter of Indians. Air quality, improvement in the healthcare system can increase the average age of Indians by 3.1 years.