Delhiites to lose 11.9 years of their lives to pollution

Delhi has emerged as the world’s most polluted city in a new study which has also found that its residents are on track to lose 11.9 years of life if the current levels of pollution continue to be higher than the limit set by the World Health Organisation.

The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) released by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago also showed that all of India’s 1.3 billion people live in areas where the annual average particulate pollution level exceeds the 5 µg/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter) limit set by World Health Organization (WHO).

It also found that 67.4 per cent of the country’s population lives in areas that exceed the country’s own national air quality standard of 40 µg/m3.

The study said fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) shortens an average Indian’s life expectancy by 5.3 years, relative to what it would be if the 5 µg/m3 pollution limit set by (WHO) was met.

The AQLI said Delhi is the most polluted city in the world and if the current pollution levels persist, its 18 million residents are on track to lose 11.9 years of life expectancy on average relative to the WHO limit and 8.5 years relative to the national guideline.

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