‘You Could Lose Up to 6 Years of Your Life By Breathing in Current Air Pollution Conditions’

Posted on 08 June 2016. Tags: 'You, Breathing, conditions, could, Current, Life, lose, pollution, years

Health hazards of pollution have been documented time and again. However, a new study conducted by the prestigious Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) along with the National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), Colorado has revealed that Indians’ life expectancy has reduced by an average of 3.4 years due to air pollution. As expected, Delhi tops the chart and the life expectancy here is considered to drop by 6.3 years.

 

West Bengal and Bihar follow Delhi as life expectancy in these regions has fallen by 6.1 years and 5.7 years respectively. Some other states which suffer from life expectancy include Jharkhand – 5.2 years, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha – 4.8 years, Haryana and Punjab – 4.7 years, Chattisgarh – 4.1 years, Assam – 4 years, Tripura – 3.9 years, Meghalaya – 3.8 years and Maharashtra – 3.3 years.

 

The report comes down heavily on Uttar Pradesh as it constitutes the highest premature mortalities on account of exposure to PM 2.5 (Finer Particulate Matter). As far as deaths due to harmful ozone exposure are concerned, Uttar Pradesh tops the list with 18% of the country’s overall deaths, whereas Bihar comes a close second with 11%. Other states which followed them included West Bengal (9.5%), Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh (7% each). Ozone related deaths usually take place due to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD).

 

Sachin Ghude, an IITM scientist presents a very sad picture of India’s pollution levels. Scientists have estimated that PM 2.5 exposure was responsible for approximately 5,70,000 premature deaths in 2011.  

 

The study has further pointed out that air pollution levels have witnessed a rapid rise on account of increasing PM2.5 levels. These in turn have increased on account of transportation, excessive industrialisation and burning of bio fuels. The study also quoted a report of the reputed Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) which explains that 78% of India’s 141 cities are suffering from excessive PM 2.5 levels.

 

The appalling condition faced by the environment calls for immediate measures to be undertaken by the government. Further, citizens and the industry also need to understand their responsibilities in order to save the environment.

 

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Daily Bhaskar