The University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute (EPIC) released its latest Air Quality Life Index report in which Delhi topped as India’s most polluted region. According to the report, air pollution is causing a reduction in life expectancy by 11.9 years in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, which is considered the most polluted city in the world.
In the list, Delhi is followed by Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Tripura, Punjab, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh. The top ten cities that have failed to reduce their PM2.5 levels. The report states that 67.4% of Indians live in areas that exceed the country’s national air quality standard of 40 µg/m3.
India bears the most significant health burden attributed to air pollution among all nations, primarily because of the extensive population exposed to elevated levels of fine particulate pollution. Since 2013, India has been responsible for 59.1% of the global increase in pollution.
The Northern Plains region of India, home to over half a billion people (38.9% of the nation’s population), is grappling with severe pollution issues. If pollution continues unchecked, residents of this region face an estimated loss of approximately eight years in life expectancy. Delhi, the world’s most polluted megacity, is located in this region, exhibiting an annual average particulate pollution level of 126.5 µg/m3, surpassing the WHO guideline by more than 25 times.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) serves as a global metric for assessing air quality, rating cities on a scale from 0 to 500. Lower values on this scale signify healthier air conditions. Each country maintains its own AQI system, which typically evaluates five major air pollutants: ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and airborne particles. These pollutants result from complex chemical processes, primarily associated with the combustion of fossil fuels.