High PM2.5 Levels in Delhi Causes Serious Health Issues, Early Deaths, a new study says, indicating that migration to electric vehicles could mitigate the crisis
Human lifespans in notoriously polluted Delhi are reducing by 12 years because of toxic particles in the air. This Weather Channel finding confirms what residents of highly polluted cities have long known: dirty air leads to serious long-term health consequences, reducing life expectancy, year on year.
Satellite data from 2021 show that, on average, air in different parts of the capital contains alarmingly high levels of PM2.5, leading to a range of potentially fatal lung and heart diseases. In short, the air in Delhi, particularly through its foggy winters, is simply not fit for human breathing.
The study states that with a PMI2.5 concentration of 126.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, Delhi was the most polluted of any city worldwide. That is, Delhi exceeded the WHO's limit of five micrograms per cubic metre by a breath-stopping 25 times. Across India, the average was 58.7 micrograms per cubic meter, or almost 12 times the recommended level. In terms of longevity, that translates into 5.3 years.
Air pollution, however, is not just a poor-nation problem. According to a report by the Weather Channel, some cities in the United States breathe toxic air. Statista reports that as of 2022, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, had a PM2.5 level of 33.5 micrograms per cubic meter, over six times WHO’s recommended level..
The researchers found that air quality has a more severe impact on health than cardiovascular diseases in India. One of the primary sources of air pollution in Delhi is gas-powered vehicles. Transitioning to electric vehicles, like the solar-powered seven-seat bike created by Indian entrepreneur Asad Abdullah, could significantly improve air quality. This shift is becoming more feasible as electric vehicles become more cost-effective.