New Delhi: Air pollution has reduced the lifespan of Indians by an average of 5.2 years and if the pollution is reduced in accordance with World Health Organization standards, the age of Delhiites can increase to 9.4 years. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, levels of pollutants (PM) 2.5 present in the form of fine particles in the air should not exceed 10 microns per cubic meter, while PM 10 levels should not exceed 20 microns per cubic meter. Should not be more. The average level of PM2.5 in India in 2018 was 63 microns per cubic meter.
According to the new air quality life expectancy list prepared by the Energy Policy Institute of the University of Chicago, if the pollution levels across India decrease as per WHO standards, the lifespan of Indians will increase by 5.2 years. “Pollution related to fine particles has increased significantly over time,” the report said. Since 1998, there has been a 42 percent increase in annual particulate matter pollution, which has reduced the average age of people by 1.8 years in those years. ”
It says that a quarter of India’s population is living in a state of pollution that is not seen in any other country. If the level of pollution remains, then in northern India, the age of 24 million 8 million people can decrease by more than eight years. Lucknow has the highest level of pollution in the country with 11 times more pollution than WHO standards.
The report said that if this level of pollution in Lucknow remains, then there is a danger of life expectancy of the people of the place falling by up to 10.3 years. It states that if pollution is reduced in Delhi as per the standards of WAHO, then the people of the national capital may increase their lifespan by 9.4 years. If this pollution is reduced as per the national standard of India, then the age of Delhiites can increase by 6.5 years.
According to the report, if pollution decreases as per WHO standards, then the age of people in states like Bihar and Bengal can increase by more than seven years and the age of people of Haryana may increase by eight years. It mentions that four countries — Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan — have about a quarter of the world’s population and are included in the list of countries with the most pollution. North India is emerging as the most polluted part in South Asia.
