In the News
September 13, 2017
The residents New Delhi face yet another health hazard related to the poor air quality that engulfs them. A recent study has found that if Delhi’s foul air is cleaned up and made to meet the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards, city residents stand to gain nine years in average in their life span! Additionally, just meeting the international air-quality standards can add “four years” to the average life of people here, while meeting the national standards can add one year.
The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) developed by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC), when considered at the national level, says Indians could live four years longer on average if its air quality meets WHO standards.
The study takes air borne particulate matter pollution, PM 2.5, into account and extrapolates it to see what impact any reduction in its volume would have on the life span of people.
Accordingly, it says that if PM 2.5 quantity in Delhi’s air meets the WHO annual standard of 10 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m3), people can live up to nine years longer and six years longer if it meets the national standard of 40 ug/m3!