shot-button
Maharashtra Elections 2024 Maharashtra Elections 2024
Home > News > India News > Article > Delhi residents could lose 119 yrs of life to pollution

‘Delhi residents could lose 11.9 yrs of life to pollution’

Updated on: 30 August,2023 09:15 AM IST  |  New Delhi
Agencies |

A new study finds Delhi is the most polluted city in the world and how this will affect the locals

‘Delhi residents could lose 11.9 yrs of life to pollution’

Heavy traffic on the streets of New Delhi which is covered in heavy smog. File pic

Key Highlights

  1. ‘Delhi residents could lose 11.9 yrs of life to pollution’
  2. A new study finds Delhi is the most polluted city in the world
  3. Delhi has a population of 18 million

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 persist. 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 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 that Delhi is the most polluted city in the world with its 18 million residents 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 if the current pollution levels persist. “Even in the least polluted district in the region - Pathankot in Punjab - particulate pollution is more than seven times the WHO limit, taking 3.1 years off life expectancy if current levels persist,” it said.


Though particulate pollution in the northern plains is exacerbated by geologic and meteorological factors, the AQLI’s dust and sea salt-removed PM 2.5 data imply that human activity plays a key role in generating severe particulate pollution. That is likely because the region’s population density is nearly three times the rest of the country, meaning more pollution from vehicular, residential and agricultural sources, the study said.

Also read: Ahead of state elections, LPG gets cheaper by Rs 200

“Three-quarters of air pollution’s impact on global life expectancy occurs in just six countries - Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, China, Nigeria and Indonesia - where people lose one to more than six years of their lives because of the air they breathe,” said Michael Greenstone, the Milton Friedman Distinguished Service Professor in Economics and creator of AQLI.

18 mn
Population of Delhi

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!

Register for FREE
to continue reading !

This is not a paywall.
However, your registration helps us understand your preferences better and enables us to provide insightful and credible journalism for all our readers.

Mid-Day Web Stories

Mid-Day Web Stories

This website uses cookie or similar technologies, to enhance your browsing experience and provide personalised recommendations. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. OK