In a study published in Lancet Planetary Health, it was found that approximately 33,000 deaths per year in 10 cities across India can be attributed to air pollution levels that are above the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. These cities include Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Shimla, and Varanasi. The study used data on PM2.5 exposure in these cities and the daily counts of mortality between 2008 and 2019.
The study found that even levels of air pollution below current Indian air quality standards lead to increased daily mortality rates in the country. The authors of the study suggest that India should drastically reduce its clean air norms to at least match WHO guidelines to protect citizens from the dangers of polluted air.
Delhi recorded the highest number of air pollution-related deaths in the study period, with around 12,000 deaths each year. Varanasi logged the second highest number of deaths during the period, with around 830 deaths a year. The lowest air pollution levels were recorded in Shimla, but air pollution was still a risk in the hill city with 59 deaths per year attributable to short-term PM2.5 exposure higher than the WHO guideline value.
The study highlights that there is no safe level of air pollution exposure and that efforts to control air pollution in India should be redoubled. The study was conducted by researchers from Sustainable Futures Collaborative, Ashoka University, Centre for Chronic Disease Control, Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet, Harvard and Boston Universities, and other places.
