Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) Report

Why in news?

According to the University of Chicago report, the air pollution has major impact on the life expectancy.

What is the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) report about?

• Prepared by- University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute (UCEPI)
• Purpose- To quantify the causal relationship between long-term human exposure to air pollution and life expectancy.
• Data- The latest report analysed particulate matter data from 2021 to determine its impact on life expectancy.
• The index then combines this research with hyper-localised, satellite measurements of global particulate matter (PM2.5), yielding unprecedented insight into the true cost of pollution.
• Policies- It illustrates how air pollution policies can increase life expectancy if pollution levels were reduced to ,
  • World Health Organization’s (WHO) safe guideline
  • Existing national air quality standards, or
  • By user-selected % reductions.
• Better decision making- This information can help to inform local communities and policymakers about the benefits of air pollution policies in very concrete terms.

What are the key findings of the report?

• South Asia - Air pollution is a major threat to South Asians especially for those living in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan.
• Its impact on life expectancy in each of these countries is far greater than other prominent health threats.

• Impact on life expectancy - The South Asian nation stands to lose 6.8 years of life on average per person.
• If the pollution levels in 2000 remained constant over time, the residents in these countries would be on track to lose 3.3 years of life expectancy and not the 5.2 years that they stand to lose in 2021.
• The average person living in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan is exposed to particulate pollution levels that are 51.3% higher than at the turn of the century.
  • Bangladesh remains the most polluted country in the world.
• Against WHO- Although it witnessed a drop of 2.1% in particulate pollution in 2021 compared to 2020 levels, pollution in the country was about 14 to 15 times the WHO guideline for the past decade.

According to the WHO, annual average concentrations of PM 2.5 should not exceed 5 µg/m3.

How about the situation in India?

A 2022 Lancet study reveals air pollution caused more than 16.7 lakh premature deaths in India in 2019. Out of the total deaths, 9.8 lakh were caused by PM2.5 pollution, and another 6.1 lakh by household air pollution.

• India is the 2^nd most polluted nation. From 2013-2021, 59.1% of the world’s increase in pollution has come from India.
• Particulate pollution- All 1.3 billion people live in areas where the annual average particulate pollution level surpasses the WHO guideline.
• Between 2020 and 2021, PM2.5 level in India increased 10 times more than the WHO guideline.
• Reduce life expectancy-  Air pollution shortens the average Indian life expectancy by 6.3 years, relative to what it would be if the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline was met
• From 1998 to 2021, average annual particulate pollution increased by 67.7%, further reducing average life expectancy by 2.3 years.
• Most polluted- The world’s 50 most polluted regions belong to the Northern Plains of India.
• Delhi, the national capital, has the highest level of pollution in the country, with pollution 14 times greater than the WHO guideline.

What are the reasons behind the spike in air pollution?

• Industrialisation- Release of toxic pollutants from industries without proper safety guidelines.
• Economic development- People undermining conservation over development results in degradation of the planet health.
• Population growth- It has increased the energy demand and fossil fuel use across the region
• Increase in vehicles- In India and Pakistan, the number of vehicles on the road has increased about four-fold since the early 2000s.
• Electricity production- It is produced predominantly using fossil fuels which had tripled between 1998 and 2017 in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan combined.
• Increase in Pollution- Although high energy use has contributed to better living standards and economic output in these countries, the consequent increase in particulate pollution has had their own consequences.

What are the impacts of Particulate Matter?

• Impact on health- PM 2.5 can easily enter the circulatory system of humans through the nose and throat.
• It can cause chronic diseases such as asthma, heart attack, bronchitis and other respiratory problems.
• Life expectancy- PM 2.5 has close link between exposure to fine particles and premature death from heart and lung disease.
• Birth defect- Several reports establish an association between mothers’ exposure to fine particles and birth defects.

References

1. Indian Express- Pollution shortening India’s life expectancy.
2. Down to Earth- University of Chicago report
3. Indian Express- Pollution reduce lifespan in south Asia