PM2.5 air pollution claimed 54,000 lives in Delhi, Bengaluru at second spot

While air pollution caused by hazardous PM2.5 fine particulate matter led to the death of 54,000 people in Delhi, Bengaluru stands second in the list claiming 12,000 people in Bengaluru last year.

Bengaluru:While air pollution caused by hazardous PM2.5 fine particulate matter led to the death of 54,000 people in Delhi, Bengaluru stands second in the list claiming 12,000 people in Bengaluru last year where pollution levels remained almost six times above the prescribed WHO limits, according to a new study.

According to a Greenpeace Southeast Asia analysis of IQAir data from a live Cost Estimator and uses live air quality data collected by IQAir, PM2.5 air pollution claimed approximately 54,000 lives in India’s national capital in 2020.

Globally, approximate 160,000 deaths have been attributed to PM2.5 air pollution in the five most populous cities. A cost estimator is an online tool that tracks the real-time health impact and economic costs of air pollution in major world cities.

To show the impact of air pollution-related deaths on the economy, the approach used by Greenpeace is called “willingness-to-pay”, a lost life year or a year living with a disability is converted to money by the amount that people are willing to pay to avoid this negative outcome.

Despite a reprieve in air quality owing to the lockdown, the latest figures from the report underscore the need to act immediately. The need of the hour is to rapidly scale up renewable energy, bring an end to fossil fuel emissions and boost sustainable and accessible transport systems.

The cost estimator also sustained the estimated air pollution-related economic losses of Rs. 1,23,65,15,40,000. The damage is equally worrying in other Indian cities. An estimated 25,000 avoidable deaths in Mumbai in 2020 have been attributed to air pollution. Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and Delhi estimated an approximate 12000, 11000, 11000, and 54000 avoidable deaths respectively due to polluted air.

“Despite recording relatively better air quality this year due to strict lockdown, air pollution continues to be a serious public health issue which also drastically impacts our economy. For the governments of the day, investments must be made towards green and sustainable solutions. When we choose fossil fuel over clean energy, our health is put at stake.

Polluted air increases the likelihood of deaths due to cancer & stroke, a spike in asthma attacks and worsens the severity of COVID-19 symptoms,” says Avinash Chanchal, Climate Campaigner, Greenpeace India.

"We need to ensure our growing demand is fueled by sustainable and cleaner sources of energy and cities should promote low cost, active and carbon-neutral transport options that prioritize walking, cycling, and public transport, the increased use of clean energy and clean transport will not only improve the public health but it will also strengthen the economy and public money" added Chanchal.

Commenting on the revelations made by cost estimator CEO of IQAir, Frank Hammes says, “Breathing should not be deadly. The fact that poor air quality claimed an estimated 160,000 lives in the five largest cities alone should give us pause, especially in a year when many cities were seeing lower air pollution levels due to less economic activity. Governments, corporations and individuals must do more to eliminate the sources of air pollution and make our cities better places to live.”