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Author: Prof G C Khilnani Chairman, PSRI Institute of Pulmonary, Critical care and Sleep Medicine. Formerly, Professor and Head, Dept of Pulmonary, Critical care and Sleep Med Medicine, AIIMS, N Delhi Member:. Technical Advisory Group of WHO Global Air Pollution and Health.
India
healthysoch
New Delhi, December 18, 2024:
The impact of PM2.5 on global life expectancy is comparable to that of smoking, and more than 3 times that of alcohol use. In India, due to air pollution average life expectancy reduces by 5.3 yrs and in Delhi the same is 11.9 years which is indeed shocking
China’s pollution has declined 42.3 percent since 2013, the year before the country began a “war against pollution.” Due to these improvements, the average Chinese citizen can expect to live 2.2 years longer. The AQLI (AIR QUALITY LIFE INDEX) shows that reducing global pollution to meet the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline (pm 2.5< 5 ug/m3 ) would add 2.3 years onto average life expectancy all over the world
Americans breathe cleaner air largely because of strong policies, During periods of industrialization, countries like the United States and Europe were as polluted as many of today’s pollution hotspots. People began to call for change, and change came. For example, since the United States passed the Clean Air Act, pollution has decreased by 64.9 percent extending the average American lifespan by 1.4 years
Delhi, is the most polluted megacity in the world with annual average particulate pollution of 126.5 µg/ m3 —more than 25 times the WHO guideline
The increase in air pollution in South Asia over time is not surprising. Over the last two decades, industrialization, economic development, and population growth have led to skyrocketing energy demand and fossil fuel use across the region.
In India the number of vehicles on the road has increased about four-fold since the early 2000s. India revamped its NCAP goal, aiming to achieve a 40 percent reduction in particulate pollution levels by 2026 in 131 non-attainment cities. A
According to Prof G C Khilnani, Ever since 1952 London fog led to 12,000 excess deaths attributable to poor air quality as a result of industrialization (mainly coal burning), the developed world have taken cognizance of this menace and today we have reached a stage that a large proportion of air pollution related morbidity and mortality in the world occurs in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Delhi, the `CAPITAL OF AIR POLLUTION has PM 2.5 which is 25 times the WHO standards (5 ug/m3). It is important to highlight that at one stage developed countries (including California state) was as polluted as India is now, however, strict measures have been taken so the PM2.5 remains around 10 ug/ m3 despite phenomenal increase in number of vehicles. With passage of Clean Air Act,in USA, pollution has decreased by 64.9 percent. China is another example where . Since 2013 air pollution decreased by 43.3% leading to increased life expectancy by 2.2 years.
In India the main sources of air pollution are automobile vehicles, industries (including small scale) and unorganized construction and burning of fossil fuels ( including indoor uses). All these are `Man made’ and hence it is possible to bring down air pollution with stringent measure and restrictions including implementation of measures which are well known.
As a Pulmonologist, I see many patients who have prolonged cough after trivial viral illness which is associated with breathlessness and wheezing where medications are ineffective and at times corticosteroids are required to control airway inflammation. Role of air pollution in enhancing mortality after viral illness was clearly demonstrated when the mortality in Northern Italy was about three times higher than southern Italy (Less polluted). 30 yrs back nebulization machines at home was a rarity and now it is common to have nebulization machine in Delhi households, especially if there are children or elderly in the house. It is important to emphasize that there is no scientific evidence that Air purifiers or use of mask protects us from adverse effects of pollution
I strongly believe that no amount of air pollution is safe. That is the reason the WHO has reduced air quality standard of PM2.5 to 5 ug/m3 (Indian standard is 40ug/ m3 ). It is important to abide by Government regulations which are well described. We, the citizens of India, have a collective responsibility towards controlling this menace.
HealthySoch
