New Delhi: The effects of air pollution are being widely felt in the capital Delhi-NCR. Especially since Diwali, Delhi’s air has been continuously polluted. On Thursday (October 30), the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi crossed 400.
Health experts are warning everyone about the increasing particulate matter (PM 2.5) in the air. Studies have warned of several long-term adverse effects caused by PM 2.5. It can increase the risk of diseases ranging from heart disease to cancer.
In a recent study, researchers have warned of the serious adverse effects of PM 2.5.
According to a global report published in The Lancet journal, anthropogenic PM 2.5 pollution caused over 1.7 million deaths in India in 2022. Compared to 2010, deaths have increased by 38 percent. Furthermore, the use of fossil fuels also contributed to 44 percent of deaths.
Health experts have warned everyone about the rapidly increasing pollution and the health risks it poses.
Air Pollution and the Risk of Deaths
The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change 2025 report states that air pollution has multiple sources and is having a variety of negative impacts on overall health.
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For example, pollution caused by the use of petrol for road transport claimed the lives of 269,000 people. Estimates also indicate that India will suffer a financial loss of US$339.4 billion in 2022 due to premature deaths caused by air pollution, representing approximately 9.5 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
This clearly demonstrates that air pollution is posing a significant health and economic threat.
India’s Growing Air Pollution Risk
The report was prepared by an international team of 128 experts from 71 academic institutions and UN agencies, led by University College London. The authors stated that the report, published ahead of the 30th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP30), presents the most comprehensive assessment to date of the links between climate change and health.
These findings are significant given the persistently high levels of air pollution in Delhi. Air quality in Delhi has remained between “poor” and “very poor” for the past few days. Cloud-seeding trials were conducted last week in parts of the national capital, such as Burari, Karol Bagh, and Mayur Vihar, in an effort to address the pollution problem. However, environmentalists call this a short-term solution.
In the country-specific data sheet accompanying the Lancet report, the authors stated that human-caused air pollution (PM 2.5) could cause more than 1.718 million deaths in India in 2022, a 38 percent increase from 2010. Fossil fuels (coal and liquid gas) accounted for 7.52 lakh (44 per cent) of these deaths in 2022.