Data from the Air Quality Life Index 2021 shows that failure to meet the World Health Organization (WHO)’s guideline on reducing PM2.5 (particulate matter) pollution to 5 μg/m3 would cut global life expectancy by 2.3 years. AQLI data emphasises that ambient particulate pollution poses the world’s greatest external risk to human health.
South Asia is at the centre of the crisis. According to AQLI data, from 2013 to 2021, particulate pollution in South Asia surged by 9.7%, which is estimated to reduce life expectancy in the region by an additional six months.
Chart 1 | The chart shows the annual PM2.5 concentrations in the top 25 most polluted countries and other select ones.
