Delhi residents losing 8.2 years of life expectancy due to air pollution: Study
Delhi residents are losing 8.2 years of their life expectancy due to extremely high PM 2.5 levels in the Capital city of India
New Delhi: Delhi residents are losing 8.2 years of their life expectancy due to extremely high PM 2.5 levels in the city. According to a report, Delhi is the most polluted city in the world. The PM 2.5 level here is 20 times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) standard thus delhi pollution is reducing life expectancy.
This loss can be reduced by reducing the pollution level to the WHO standard of 5 micrograms per cubic meter. The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) says that an average Indian is losing 3.5 years of their life expectancy.
In 2023, the average PM 2.5 level in Delhi was 111.4 micrograms per cubic meter, which is 22 times higher than the WHO standard of 5 micrograms. Experts say that the main reasons for this are vehicular emissions, industrial pollution and stubble burning in neighboring states.
The report cites satellite-derived PM 2.5 estimates for 2023. India’s particulate matter concentrations were higher than in 2022. These levels are eight times higher than the World Health Organization guidelines, and the report says that consistently meeting the guidelines to reduce them could add 3.5 years to the average Indian’s life expectancy.
According to WHO standards, an average person loses 1.9 years of life globally. However, the 2023 AQLI data shows that global PM 2.5 concentrations in 2023 were 1.5 percent higher than in 2022 and almost five times higher than the WHO guidelines.
What are the causes of Delhi’s pollution leading to reduction of life expectancy?
- There are more than 12 million vehicles in Delhi. Exhaust fumes from diesel and petrol vehicles are a major source of PM2.5. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, vehicular emissions contribute to 30-40% of pollution.
- Factories and thermal power plants around Delhi run on coal, which emit sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These are converted into PM2.5.
- Stubble burning in Haryana and Punjab during October-November worsens Delhi’s air quality.
- Road dust and construction contribute to 20% of pollution in Delhi. Open-cut debris and unplanned construction are major sources.
- Burning coal at home, burning garbage and falling temperatures in winter increase pollution as moisture in the air traps particles.
