India’s air pollution is linked to millions of deaths

A new study from Karolinska Institutet shows that long-term exposure to air pollution in India is contributing to millions of deaths. The study, published in The Lancet Planetary Health, highlights the need for stronger air quality regulations in the country.

Air pollution, which consists of particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, PM2.5, can enter the lungs and bloodstream and is a major health risk in India. Researchers have now investigated the association between these particles and mortality over a 10-year period. The study is based on data from 655 districts in India from 2009 to 2019.

“We found that for every 10 micrograms per cubic meter increase in PM2.5 concentration, the mortality rate increased by 8.6%,” said Petter Jungmann, the last author and researcher at the Karolinska Institute for Environmental Medicine. he says.

This study analyzed the relationship between changes in air pollution levels and mortality rates. The results showed that around 3.8 million deaths during this period could be linked to air pollution levels above 40 micrograms per cubic meter, India’s own air quality guidelines.

Compared to the stricter guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) (just 5 micrograms per cubic metre), this number rises to 16.6 million deaths. This corresponds to almost 25% of all mortality during the study period.

The study also highlights that the entire population of India lives in areas where PM2.5 levels exceed WHO guidelines. This means that almost 1.4 billion people are exposed to air pollution each year that can have negative health effects. In some areas, levels of up to 119 micrograms per cubic meter have been measured, well above the standard considered safe by both the WHO and India.

“The results show that India’s current guidelines are not enough to protect health. Tighter regulations and measures to reduce emissions are of paramount importance,” said Petter Ljungmann.

Although the Indian government has been implementing the National Air Pollution Control Program since 2017 to improve air quality, studies have shown that PM2.5 concentrations continue to increase in many regions. The researchers emphasize the importance of both reducing local emissions and considering long-range air pollution, as PM2.5 particles can travel hundreds of kilometers.

“Our study provides evidence that can be used to develop better air quality policies, both in India and globally,” says Petter Ljungmann.