Delhi Residents Could Increase Life Expectancy by 11.9 Years with Reduced Air Pollution

Studies are saying Delhi residents could live 11.9 years longer if the city meets the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) air pollution standard. According to an analysis released on Tuesday, The annual standard is 5 micrograms per cubic meters.

Out of the 1.3 billion people living in India. 67.4% of them live in areas that exceed 40 micrograms per cubic meter; more than eight times the standard it should be at. Air pollution is currently the greatest threat to residents. It takes an around 5.3 years off the average life expectancy. This is more than cardiovascular diseases that reduces life expectancy by 4.5 years and maternal malnutrition at 1.8 years.

The same analysis looked at how air pollution has increased from 1998 to 29212 by 67.7% reducing life expectancy from 2.3 years. Over the last decade, India has contributed 59.1% to the world’s increase in air pollution.

With the launch of the National Clean Air Program, India official declared war against pollution in 2019. The original goal was to reduce air pollution by 20-30% to how it was in 2017 by 2024. Hopefully, the annual standard levels can be reached for the sake of residents and the environment as whole in the coming years.