The air quality crisis is not confined to North India alone. States like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan are also struggling with severe pollution, with the 292.3 million residents in these regions losing an average of 2.9 years of life expectancy due to poor air quality.
India continues to grapple with a dire air pollution crisis that jeopardizes the health and longevity of its population. Despite some global progress in reducing pollution levels in 2022, India’s air quality remains alarmingly poor, casting a shadow over the lives of millions.
According to the latest Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) report from the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC), air pollution in South Asia, including India, showed modest improvements in 2022. While the region saw a slight reduction in pollution, the situation in India remains critical. The report highlights that, although pollution levels in South Asia decreased slightly in 2022, India remains a significant concern due to the sheer number of people affected.
India, despite improvements, is still burdened by exceptionally high pollution levels. The report notes that while there was a 19.3 percent drop in particulate matter (PM2.5) from 2021 to 2022, the average life expectancy of an Indian is still projected to decrease by 3.4 years if current pollution trends continue. The northern part of the country, home to over 500 million people, is the most affected, with an expected life expectancy reduction of 5.4 years due to pollution.
Michael Greenstone, the Milton Friedman Distinguished Service Professor in Economics and creator of the AQLI, underscores the severity of the problem. “High pollution concentrations are often a reflection of either low ambition in policy-making or failures in policy enforcement,” he said. “In some areas, pollution cuts lives short by several years.”
Modest improvement
India’s air quality has been critically poor for over a decade, with particulate pollution levels averaging around 49 µg/m³—more than nine times the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guideline of 5 µg/m³. Although there was a modest improvement in 2022, with levels dropping to 41.4 µg/m³, this is still significantly higher than safe limits. If the trend continues, Indians could gain an additional nine months of life expectancy. However, aligning air quality with WHO guidelines could extend life expectancy by as much as 3.6 years.
The air quality crisis is not confined to North India alone. States like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan are also struggling with severe pollution, with the 292.3 million residents in these regions losing an average of 2.9 years of life expectancy due to poor air quality.
In response to the growing crisis, the Indian government initiated the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2019, setting a goal to reduce particulate pollution by 20 to 30 percent from 2017 levels by 2024. The target was revised in 2022 to a 40 percent reduction by 2026 in 131 cities. Achieving this goal could potentially add two years to the life expectancy of residents in these cities and increase the national average by 7.8 months. As of 2022, pollution levels in these cities had already decreased by 18.8 percent since 2017, contributing an additional 10.8 months to the life expectancy of 446.7 million residents.
Despite these efforts, challenges remain. “Setting ambitious standards is only part of the puzzle,” says Tanushree Ganguly, director of the AQLI. “Equally important is implementing policies and monitoring mechanisms that enforce these standards. Some countries are succeeding, showing that air pollution is indeed a solvable problem.”
Children: increased risk
A recent study conducted by the International Institute for Population Sciences in Mumbai underscores the severe impact of air pollution on mortality rates across various age groups. The study reveals that air pollution significantly increases the risk of death, particularly among newborns and children under five. Newborns in high pollution areas face an 86 percent higher risk of death, children under five have a 100-120 percent increased risk, and adults face a 13 percent higher risk.
The research, based on PM2.5 pollution levels from over 700 districts, highlights the dangers of both ambient and household air pollution. Areas with high PM2.5 levels, such as the Indo-Gangetic Plain, experience elevated pollution due to factors like crop residue burning and industrial emissions. The study found that households without separate kitchens face increased mortality risks, particularly among newborns and children.
The authors of the study emphasize the need for increased awareness and action to combat both ambient and household air pollution. They advocate for better enforcement of air quality standards and greater efforts to reduce emissions, suggesting that reaching at least the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) could substantially lower the disease burden and prevent premature deaths.
The dual challenges of mitigating ambient air pollution and addressing household pollution underscore the complexity of India’s air quality crisis. With continued efforts and effective policy implementation, there remains hope that improvements can be made to safeguard the health and longevity of India’s population, the study says.
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