A new study found that long-term exposure to air pollution was linked to millions of deaths in India over a decade.
India is one of the most polluted countries in the world, with its capital New Delhi being the most polluted capital city, according to data from the Clean Air Fund. The study from Karolinska Institutet, published in The Lancet Planetary Health, shows the significant effects of this problem on the community.
The researchers examined the link between air pollution in India and the mortality from 2009 to 2019 in 655 districts.
"We found that every 10 microgram per cubic meter increase in PM2.5 concentration led to an 8.6% increase in mortality,” explained Petter Ljungman, author and researcher at the Karolinska Institutet's Institute of Environmental Medicine.
Specifically, the results showed 3.8 million deaths linked to air pollution levels above India's own air quality guideline of 40 micrograms per cubic meter. If analyzed using the World Health Organization's 5 micrograms per cubic meter guideline, the figures rise to 16.6 million deaths -- 25% of all deaths during the period.
Researchers also pointed out that the entire Indian population is exposed to air with PM2.5 levels exceeding the WHO guideline.
Particles smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter can enter deep into the lungs and may also get into the bloodstream, the Environmental Protection Agency explained. However, PM2.5 poses the greatest risk to health.
“The results show that current guidelines in India are not sufficient to protect health," added Ljungman. The team hopes the study will help put stricter regulations and measures to reduce emissions.
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