Air pollution: Indians breath toxic air eight times more dangerous compared to WHO standard
New Delhi: Every person in India is breathing air that contains eight times more toxic particles than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) safe air quality standards, according to a study by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC).
The study, cited by Deccan Herald on Friday, warns that exposure to dangerously high levels of poisonous particles in air slashes the average life expectancy of Indians by 3.5 years. In Delhi, one of the most polluted city in the country, the impact is even more alarming: residents are expected to lose 8.2 years of life due to toxic air.
“Air pollution remains a top reason why people are living shorter lives throughout the world.” AQLI director Tanushree Ganguly said in a statement.
The report reveals that all of India’s 1.4 billion people live in areas where PM2.5 levels exceed the WHO’s guideline of 5 micrograms per cubic metre. PM-2.5 is the most dangerous toxic particle that penetrates the lungs and goes to the bloodstream. It is one of the two air quality indicators (along with PM-10) of dust that are monitored, added the report.
While the northern plains remain the most polluted, southern India also falls short of safe air standards. If pollution levels were brought down to WHO-recommended levels, life expectancy could increase by 1.6 years of life to everyone in Karnataka, 2.1 years in Andhra Pradesh, 2.4 years in Telangana, 1.7 years in Tamil Nadu, and 1.3 years in Kerala, as per the Air Quality Life Index created by a global team led by the University of Chicago.
Outside of Delhi and the northern plains, states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra are among the worst affected by particulate pollution. According to the study, if air quality in these states were improved to meet the WHO’s safe standards, the average life expectancy could increase by 3.3 years in Rajasthan, 3.1 years in Madhya Pradesh, and 2.8 years in Maharashtra.
India's own air quality standard for PM2.5 is 40 micrograms per cubic metre, which is eight times the WHO limit. Yet 46% of the population still lives in areas exceeding even this threshold. Reducing particulate concentrations in these regions even to the Indian standard could add 1.5 years to the life expectancy of people living there.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
23-year-old woman found dead at Delhi home; suicide suspected
New Delhi (PTI): A 23-year-old woman was found dead in her house in Delhi's Prem Nagar area, with police suspecting it to be a case of suicide, an official said on Tuesday.
The deceased, identified as Anjali Singh, was found motionless in her room on Monday by her sister and her neighbour.
Police said her father, Vinod Kumar Singh (51), told them that he and his wife were away at work at the time of the incident, while their son and the other daughter were also not at home at the time of the incident.
ALSO READ: Koppal: Worms found in midday meal at Ningapur Government School
According to the family, the room in which Anjali was found was locked from the inside. The door was later forcibly opened by a neighbour and her sister with the help of a crowbar.
Her body was found lying on the bed inside the room, police said.
Preliminary inquiry revealed that Anjali had allegedly hanged herself using a piece of cloth tied to the ceiling fan.
It is suspected that the noose eventually might have loosened or torn off, resulting in her being found lying on the bed.
Family members informed the police that Anjali was a final-year student of a librarian science course from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). About a week ago, her final-year examination results were declared, and she had failed, following which she had been under depression, they said.
The family has not raised any allegation of foul play, police said, adding that no suicide note or external injury marks were found on the body during the initial inspection.
Inquest proceedings have been initiated in the matter as per the law. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death, and further investigation is underway, police added.
