Air pollution stands as the major cause of all deaths in India. In 2019, 1.67 million deaths worldwide were attributed to outdoor air pollution. Fast forward to 2023, the situation hasn’t improved; a study conducted by BMJ reported that 2.18 million deaths were directly linked to severe air pollution. Not only does it increase the death rate, but life expectancy also declines significantly, especially in countries with serious air pollution, like India.
Source – Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India (ORGI)
Air Pollution Triggers Heart and Blood Vessel Diseases
Exposure to high levels of air pollution can cause a variety of adverse health outcomes. It increases the risk of respiratory infections, heart disease, and lung cancer.
In 2020, more than 30% of total medically certified deaths in India were reported under the cause group ‘Diseases of the Circulatory System’.
In 2020, 10% of total medically certified deaths in India were reported under the cause group Diseases of the Respiratory System.
Life Expectancy and Air Pollution
The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI), issued by the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute, demonstrated that the entire population of India(1.4 billion), resides in zones where the annual average of particulate pollution exceeds the 5 μg/m3 limit established by the World Health Organization (WHO). in 2023, Delhi, with a population of 18 million, is identified as the most polluted city in the world. Residents in the city are estimated to experience a decrease in life expectancy by 11.9 years compared to the WHO limit and by 8.5 years compared to the national guideline if current pollution levels persist.
Image – https://aqli.epic.uchicago.edu/news/top-5-pollution-charts-from-india/
Source – AQLI, life expectancy from WHO
Why Air Pollution is So Dangerous
Based on a WHO study, the major concern in air pollution is particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers, approximately 20-28 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair. Particulates, taken up by the lungs and transported through the bloodstream, cause cell inflammation. This strains the heart, contributing to cardiovascular issues, such as heart attacks and strokes. Studies have found that PM2.5 raises blood pressure, inflammation, and rates of heart attacks and strokes.
Air Quality Guideline – WHO & India
The World Health Organization (WHO) provides air quality guidelines for particulate matter, including PM2.5 and PM10, recognized globally. These WHO guidelines are designed to protect public health and are based on scientific evidence regarding the health effects of exposure to particulate matter. They are intended to help countries set their air quality standards and regulations to minimize the health risks associated with air pollution.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) sets India’s air quality standards. As per the NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standards) report of the year 2019, here are the air quality guidelines for PM2.5 and PM10.
Here are the WHO & India air quality guidelines for PM2.5 and PM10:
| Particulate Matter | 24 hr limit (µg/m³) | Annual limit (µg/m³) | India’s 2022 Average | ||
| WHO | India | WHO | India | ||
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 15 | 60 | 5 | 40 | 92.6 |
| PM10 (µg/m³) | 45 | 100 | 15 | 60 | |
How I Protect Myself
1- Protect Yourself Outside with a Simple Air Pollution Mask –
Masks are highly effective against air pollution, even against tiny .007 micron particles, even when regular people are wearing them, and even when measured by physiological outcomes like lower blood pressure and better-regulated heart rate. In short, masks are wildly effective.
2- Protect yourself from air pollution indoors with an air purifier –
Smart Air is a certified B Corp committed to combating the myths big companies use to inflate the price of clean air artificially. We build empirically backed, no-nonsense purifiers and masks that use the same HEPA filters and even capture the same nanoparticles for a fraction of the cost of big companies. For protection against air pollution, check out our new purifier!
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