In the News
September 1, 2023
A new report by the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) has found that particulate air pollution remains the world’s greatest threat to human life expectancy.
The Air Quality Index Annual Update 2023 found that if fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) was reduced to meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines, the average person would add 2.3 years onto their life expectancy, a combined 17.8 billion life-years saved worldwide.
The report also found that particulate pollution remains the world’s greatest external risk to human health, with the impact on life expectancy comparable to smoking, three times that of alcohol and unsafe water and five times that of transport injuries.
It also found that six countries- Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, China, Nigeria and Indonesia- account for three-quarters of air pollution’s impact on life expectancy.
Continue reading on the United Nations Environment Programme…