Air pollution: a major cause of premature death in India

A recent study published in The Lancet Planetary Health measured the health and economic impact of air pollution in India. The human and economic toll is quite heavy.

India has 1.35 billion inhabitants. Scientists make an edifying finding, according to their study conducted at the Global Observatory on Pollution and Health at Boston College of the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Public Health Foundation of India. Indeed, the results show that 1.67 million deaths are attributable to air pollution, which represents 17.8% of all deaths in the country. In addition to the health impact, the economic losses linked to air pollution are enormous. The researchers estimated them to be around 36.8 billion US dollars, or 1.36% of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product). This is why the study authors stated that a ” successful reduction of air pollution in India would lead to substantial benefits for both the health of the population and the economy “. For them, efforts must be made to reduce air pollution in the country. Otherwise, the consequences will continue to be disastrous in a lasting way.

Air pollution endangers health, but it also shortens the lifespan of people in India, according to the study’s authors. It includes ambient particles, such as mineral dust, blown by the wind, the combustion of coal for energy production, industrial emissions or the combustion of waste. It is also linked to domestic pollution, mainly caused by the use of cooking fuels (wood, dung, agricultural residues, charcoal and charcoal). Finally, the pollutants emitted by transport vehicles, power stations and factories are also responsible for this air pollution. The problem is that this pollution will impact future generations of Indians: ” This increases the risk that children will develop heart disease, diabetes and respiratory disease when they are adults. It also lowers children’s IQ. It will be very difficult for India to move forward socially or economically if nothing is done to address this problem. “.

However, actions are being carried out in the country. As proof, it is noted in the report that the death rate linked to indoor air pollution, caused by poor ventilation of stoves, has fallen by more than 64% since the 1990s. On the other hand, the percentages in report with ambient air pollution to ozone pollution have greatly increased. The authors wish to develop new strategies to combine energy needs and poverty in the country: “ One of our challenges is to provide the poorest populations with better access to clean devices and fuels that can be used sustainably under a variety of real-life conditions. “.