The Impact of Air Pollution on Mortality Rates in India
Recent research published in the Lancet Planetary Health reveals alarming statistics about the lethal effects of air pollution on Indian citizens. The study, conducted in 10 major Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Kolkata, underscores the fact that even air pollution levels below the existing Indian standards can lead to a rise in daily mortality rates. The study cites that approximately 33,000 deaths annually in these cities can be attributed to air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines.
The analysis includes data on PM2.5 exposure and daily mortality counts from the period of 2008 to 2019. The findings demonstrate that 7.2% of all deaths in these 10 cities can be linked to short-term PM2.5 exposure surpassing the WHO guideline value of 15 μg/m3. Moreover, for every 10 μg/m3 increase in short-term PM2.5 exposure, there is a 1.42% increase in daily deaths. These numbers almost double to 3.57% when a causal modelling approach isolating the impact of local pollution sources is considered.
This groundbreaking study sheds light on the urgent need for stricter national air quality standards and enhanced efforts to combat air pollution. The research, which involved experts from Ashoka University, the Centre for Chronic Disease Control, Karolinska Institutet, Harvard University, and Boston University, highlights the necessity to extend air pollution policies beyond cities that fail to meet Indian standards.
The study emphasizes the necessity for consistent, year-round actions to curb air pollution, rather than focusing solely on extreme pollution levels during specific seasons. It suggests that policies like the Graded Response Action Plans need to be recalibrated to ensure continuous monitoring of air quality throughout the year.
Dr. Bhargav Krishna, a Fellow at the Sustainable Futures Collaborative and lead author of the study, stressed the nationwide challenge posed by air pollution and advocated for stringent year-round actions. Dr. Jeroen de Bont, a Postdoctoral researcher at Karolinska Institutet, highlighted the significance of combating dispersed local pollution sources alongside existing strategies.
As the study recommends a reevaluation of air quality management approaches and the revision of air quality standards, it underscores the paramount importance of protecting human health and saving lives in India. With urgent interventions and the application of proven pollution control methods, tens of thousands of lives can be saved annually.
