More than seven percent of all deaths in India are caused by air pollution
More than seven percent of all deaths in ten of the largest cities in India are reportedly caused by air pollution according to a new study published in the journal "The Lancet Planetary Health". Researchers investigated the PM2.5 pollution in the cities of Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Shimla and Varanasi.
Specifically, they focused on fine particulate matter, PM2.5, which is particularly harmful to health. These small particulate matter particles with a diameter less than 2.5 micrometers can penetrate deep into the lungs and from there into the bloodstream. They cause cardiovascular and respiratory diseases such as asthma and lung cancer.
According to the study, in the investigated Indian cities, more than 33,000 deaths per year could be attributed to PM2.5 pollution exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended limit of 15 micrograms per cubic meter between 2008 and 2019. This represents 7.2 percent of all deaths registered in these cities during this period.
India currently recommends an upper limit of 60 micrograms PM2.5 per cubic meter - four times the WHO guideline.
The authors of the study are now calling for stricter air quality regulations in India. Lower PM2.5 limits would "save tens of thousands of lives per year", explained study co-author Joel Schwartz from Harvard University in the US. "There are methods for controlling air pollution that are used elsewhere. They must be urgently implemented in India", Schwartz urged.
The study mentioned in the text revealed that PM2.5 pollution, which contributes to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, led to more than 33,000 deaths annually in the ten largest cities in India, accounting for over 7.2% of all deaths during that period. Moreover, the researchers found that the percentage of deaths in these cities caused by air pollution exceeding the WHO recommended limit was significantly higher than India's own guidelines, emphasizing the need for stricter regulations.
