Delhi's PM2.5 Pollution Cuts Life Expectancy

Delhi residents are losing significant years of life expectancy due to high levels of PM2.5 pollution, according to the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) report by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC). The report highlights that reducing PM2.5 levels to the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline of 5 µg/m³ could increase life expectancy by 7.8 years for Delhi's residents. Despite a 19.3% reduction in particulate pollution from 2021 to 2022, Delhi remains the most polluted city in India with 2022 PM2.5 levels at 84.3 µg/m³. Nationally, if PM2.5 levels met WHO guidelines, Indians could gain an average of 3.6 years in life expectancy. The northern plains, the most polluted region in India, saw a 17.2% decrease in particulate matter in 2022, yet residents are still projected to lose about 5.4 years of life expectancy if current pollution levels persist.