South Asia continues to hold the unfortunate title of having the world’s most severe air pollution. A recent report highlighted a surprising improvement in air quality in the region in 2022, contributing to a global decrease in pollution levels. This positive change was possibly influenced by favorable weather conditions.
Despite this improvement, residents of South Asia still face alarmingly polluted air, leading to a significant reduction in life expectancy. The annual Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) emphasized that people in this region lose more than 3.5 years of life expectancy on average due to poor air quality.
On a global scale, many countries lack adequate pollution standards or fail to meet the existing ones, exposing their populations to harmful air quality that can result in various health issues. The University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute (EPIC) reported that air pollution levels in South Asia have been steadily rising for the past two decades. However, satellite data for 2022 showed an unexpected 18 percent decrease in pollution levels across the region, except for Sri Lanka.
The report suggested that favorable meteorological conditions might have contributed to this decline in PM2.5 levels, which are harmful particulates that can deeply impact human health. Despite this positive development, the battle against air pollution remains a pressing issue globally, requiring concerted efforts to safeguard public health.
Date: 2024-08-28 01:15:02
Source: phys.org