It is no news that Air Pollution is a major hazard in India and we are nearing China’s figure of most number of deaths due to air pollution. But a new study by an US based institute claims that institute claims that India's worsening air pollution had caused some 1.1 million premature deaths in 2015.
The report states that there has been a sharp rise in the premature deaths relating to poor air quality in India, whereas China which still is the largest perpetrator of causing most air pollution in the world has been stabilized.
Both India and China are responsible for half of the total global premature deaths. But the alarming part is India had recorded increase of nearly 50% in premature deaths from PM2.5 matter from 1990 to 2015.
The report also highlights that 92% of the world's population lives in the areas with unhealthy air.
Dan Greenbaum, President of the Health Effects Institute (HEI), the global research institute that conducted the study, said “"We are seeing increasing air pollution problems worldwide, and this new report and website details why that air pollution is a major contributor to early death."
He further continued, “The US has experienced a reduction of about 27% in average annual population exposures to fine particulate matter with smaller declines in Europe. Yet some 88,000 Americans and 258,000 Europeans still face increased risks of dying early due to PM levels today".
Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave Dave, in his written response to a Parliament question in Rajya Sabha said, "Air pollution could be one of the triggering factors for respiratory associated ailments and diseases."
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