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A recent study has uncovered the grim reality of Delhi's air pollution crisis, revealing that the city's residents are facing a shocking reduction in life expectancy by up to 11.9 years due to severe air pollution. The study focused on PM2.5 data from 2021, derived from satellite observations, and found that pollution levels in India have risen from 56.2 µg/m3 in 2020 to 58.7 µg/m3 in 2021. This surpasses the World Health Organization's (WHO) guideline by over 10 times.

Widespread Impact on India's Population and Increasing Pollution Trends

The study highlighted that the entire Indian population, totaling 1.3 billion people, resides in areas where the annual average particulate pollution levels exceed recommended standards. Approximately 67.4% of Indians live in regions that surpass India's own national air quality standard of 40 µg/m3. Delhi's annual average PM2.5 level for 2021 was reported at 126.5 µg/m3, more than 25 times the WHO guideline.

Grave Health Consequences and Regional Disparities

The impact on life expectancy due to particulate pollution emerged as a major concern. The study noted that reducing particulate pollution to meet WHO guidelines would potentially extend the life expectancy of Delhi's residents by 11.9 years. Moreover, the Northern Plains, which encompass states like Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh, are projected to lose 8 years of life expectancy on average relative to WHO guidelines and 4.5 years relative to India's national standard if pollution levels persist.This alarming study underscores the urgent need for comprehensive efforts to curb air pollution and safeguard the health and well-being of India's population.