Air Pollution Linked to 1.5 Million Deaths Annually in India, Study Finds

Research highlights the severe health impact of PM2.5 exposure, with mortality risks exceeding national and global air quality standards.

A study published in The Lancet Planetary Health estimates 1.5 million deaths annually in India from 2009 to 2019 due to long-term exposure to PM2.5 air pollution.
The entire Indian population lives in areas where PM2.5 levels exceed the World Health Organization's recommended limit of 5 µg/m³, with 82% exposed to levels above India's less stringent 40 µg/m³ standard.
Researchers found an 8.6% increase in annual mortality for every 10 µg/m³ rise in PM2.5 concentrations, underscoring the lethal impact of air pollution.
The study revealed stark regional disparities, with the highest PM2.5 levels recorded in Ghaziabad and Delhi at 119 µg/m³ in 2016, compared to the lowest level of 11.2 µg/m³ in Arunachal Pradesh's Lower Subansiri district in 2019.
Experts call for stricter air quality regulations and emission reduction measures, as current guidelines fail to sufficiently protect public health.