Salvadorans lose 2.2 years of life due to air pollution from fine particles

[Translated from Spanish]

By Iliana Cornejo

The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) of the University of Chicago, United States, indicated that Salvadorans lose 2.2 years of life due to air pollution from fine particles .

The World Health Organization (WHO) guideline indicates that people have good air quality if the atmosphere has particulate matter of up to 5 micrograms per cubic meter, while El Salvador should have a standard of 15 micrograms per cubic meter . However, the AQLI says that El Salvador does not meet this standard because air pollution is around 27.30 micrograms per cubic meter , according to data collected in 2023.

“If the country met its standard, the average person would gain 1.2 years of life.” Air Quality Life Index (AQLI)

Among the findings highlighted by the Index is that in El Salvador, fine particulate pollution reduces the life expectancy of Salvadorans more than tobacco, child malnutrition, maternal mortality, and violence itself .

“Compared to the 2.2 years that fine particulate pollution reduces the life expectancy of the average resident of El Salvador, child and maternal malnutrition, tobacco use, and self-harm and interpersonal violence reduce it by 0.4, 0.5, and 1.9 years , respectively,” the report says.

The Index notes that El Salvador does not have open data to explain this fine particulate pollution.