The 2019 State Of Global Air Report, raised alarming concerns as it unveiled the health risks associated with air pollution. The report was developed by the Health Effects Institute (HEI) based in Boston, USA. These findings highlighted that approximately 1.2 million Indians met their demise in 2017 due to health issues accelerated by polluted air.
Significant Findings
According to global data, air pollution ranks fifth among global risk factors for mortality. It is surpassed only by poor diet, high blood pressure, tobacco exposure, and high blood sugar which are behavioural and metabolic risk factors. Moreover, air pollution is believed to have attributed to roughly 4.9 million deaths worldwide in 2017. This signifies approximately 8.7% of all deaths globally and 5.9% of all life years lost to disability.
Countries including India and China bear the heaviest health burden from air pollution. Following closely are Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Nigeria. In 2017, exposure to PM 2.5 pollution emerged as the third leading risk factor for Type 2 diabetes-related deaths and disability. The highest burdens were noted in India, China, Indonesia, Mexico, and Brazil.
| Country | Air Pollution Ranking |
|---|---|
| India | 1 |
| China | 2 |
| Indonesia | 3 |
| Mexico | 4 |
| Brazil | 5 |
India-Specific Findings
In India, air pollution now stands as the third-highest cause of death among all health risks. It has surpassed smoking and in 2017 alone led to premature deaths of over 1.2 million Indians due to exposure to hazardous air. Amid these premature deaths, 673,100 were due to outdoor PM2.5 exposure, with more than 481,700 deaths attributed to household air pollution.
About 60% of India’s population was exposed to household pollution in 2017. Despite this alarming figure, the report also acknowledges a decline in the proportion of households from 76% in 2005 to 60% in 2017 cooking with solid fuels. This decline is attributed to a significant government program aimed at transitioning households from solid fuels to liquefied petroleum gas.
However, the entire Indian populace resides in areas where PM2.5 concentrations exceed the World Health Organization (WHO) Air Quality Guideline of 10 µg/m3. Only about 15 % of the population lives in areas where PM2.5 concentrations fall below the least-stringent WHO target of 35 µg/m3.
Actions To Combat Air Pollution
India has launched major initiatives to combat pollution. These include the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana Household LPG program, the accelerated Bharat Stage VI vehicle standards, and the new National Clean Air Programme. If implemented fully and sustained, these would significantly improve air quality and health benefits in the future.
About PM 2.5 And Health Effects Institute (HEI)
PM 2.5 refers to an atmospheric particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 micrometres – about 3 per cent the diameter of a human hair. It can cause respiratory issues, reduce visibility, and contribute to diabetes as an endocrine disruptor. Owing to its small size, it can only be detected with an electron microscope.
The HEI is a nonprofit corporation launched in 1980. As an independent research organization, it aims to provide high-quality, impartial, and relevant scientific information on the health effects of air pollution. Its headquarters are located in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.