93 percent Indians exposed to high PM2.5: Report | India News – Times of India – India Times English News

New Delhi: About 93 percent of India’s population is living in areas where the level of dangerous particulate matter PM 2.5 is worse than normal. World Health OrganizationLeast stringent norms and air pollution reduce life expectancy in the country by 1.5 years (more than cancer), according to a US-based report. health impact institute ,HEI) released on Thursday. It flagged that air pollution is responsible for one in nine deaths globally.
Its findings also show that India with 93% of the population is at the fifth position after Egypt (1st). Pakistan (second), Bangladesh (3) with 100% of their population exposed and Nigeria Fourth place 95% of the population is exposed to particulate matter. If we look at the new WHO norms of five micrograms per cubic meter (micrograms per cubic meter) announced last year, no country in the world currently meets these new guidelines.
HEI, funded by US Environmental Protection AgencyIndustry and Development Banks found that with an average annual population-weighted PM2.5 of 83 micrograms per cubic meter in 2019, 9,79,700 deaths in India could be attributed to particulate matter.
“In India, the reduction in life expectancy due to exposure to ambient PM2.5 (1.51 years) exceeds that of all cancers (1.39 years),” the report said. Life expectancy. Which is equivalent to the biggest threats to human health and longevity.
In 2019, over 7 million deaths annually were linked to exposure to various pollutants in the world, with the WHO claiming that nearly 80% of deaths were attributed to PM2.5 exposure. Of all the classical pollutants, inhalable PM2.5 is considered the most dangerous. The WHO last year lowered its guideline for annual exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from 10 ug/m3 to just 5 ug/m3.
“Many less developed and poorer countries face a major challenge in improving their air quality as they reduce ambient PM2.5 air pollution from the burning of fossil fuels as well as indoor fires for cooking and heating. These areas and countries with the highest levels of air pollution will benefit the most from pollution reduction. Even modest reductions in air pollution can provide health benefits and better life expectancy. The report said, referring to the impact of air pollution on life expectancy.