Zero safe zones: No Indian city meets WHO air quality standards, says Lancet study

The article discusses the alarming levels of air pollution in India and its health impacts, particularly the effect of PM2.5 particulate matter, as highlighted by a study published in Lancet Planet Health.

1. Pollution Levels in India:
   • No part of India has air pollution levels below the recommended limits by the World Health Organization (WHO).
   • WHO recommends a yearly average PM2.5 level of 5 µg/m³, but no area in India meets this standard. In fact, 81.9% of the population lives in areas where air quality exceeds India’s own National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) of 40 µg/m³ of PM2.5.
2. Health Impact:
   • The study links high levels of PM2.5 pollution to 1.5 million deaths annually in India.
   • Even if air quality meets the NAAQS of 40 µg/m³, it could still lead to 0.3 million deaths from long-term exposure to pollution.
   • Air pollution contributes not only to respiratory problems but also to heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, and developmental issues in children.
3. Need for Action:
   • Experts, including Dr. Dorairaj Prabhakaran, emphasize the importance of proactive measures to control pollution. Identifying and addressing sources like construction, vehicular emissions, and crop burning could help lower pollution levels.
   • Bringing pollution levels down to NAAQS standards would reduce deaths, but achieving WHO’s recommended levels would have a much more significant positive impact on health.
4. Impact of PM2.5 on Mortality:
   • The study finds that every increase of 10 µg/m³ in PM2.5 levels raises the risk of death by 8.6%.
   • Pollution levels in India vary significantly, with some areas like Lower Subansiri in Arunachal Pradesh having relatively low levels (11.2 µg/m³), while regions like Delhi and Ghaziabad had much higher levels (119 µg/m³ in 2016).
5. Study Data and Findings:
   • The study used data from India’s civic registration system to estimate the number of deaths, and it found that 25% of deaths (1.5 million) were linked to high pollution levels.
   • The study period covered from 2009 to 2019, and the estimated death toll of 1.5 million is higher than previous estimates (1.1 million) from the Global Burden of Disease due to factors like population growth and updated methodologies.

In summary, the article underscores the severe public health risks posed by air pollution in India and calls for immediate action to improve air quality, reduce pollution levels, and save lives.