Air Quality Life Index Report

Air Quality Life Index Report

News: According to the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) report for 2023, air pollution shortens the lives of the residents of Delhi by around 11.9 years.

About AQLI:
• AQLI measures the impact of particulate pollution on life expectancy, and the report draws on particulate matter data from 2021 to determine its impact on life expectancy.
• The report is released by the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute.

Key Findings:
• India ranked second among the countries worst hit by air pollution with Bangladesh topping the list. Nepal ranked third followed by Pakistan and Mongolia.
• Particulate pollution has increased 9.7 percent from 2013 to 2021 in South Asia. In India, PM2.5 levels rose 9.5 percent; in Pakistan 8.8 percent; and in Bangladesh, levels rose by 12.4 percent over this same time interval.
• An average Indian citizen loses around 5.3 years of life expectancy due to air pollution.
• Pollution is biggest threat to human health in India in terms of lowering life expectancy, beating cardiovascular diseases and child and maternal malnutrition.

About Delhi:
• It is one of the most polluted cities in the world.
• Delhi’s annual average PM2.5 level in 2021 was found to be 126.5 µg/m3, which is more than 25 times the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline of 5 µg/m3, according to the report. In 2020, this figure was found to be a little lower at 107 µg/m3.