Khairul Alam: Air pollution in South Asia is increasing day by day. The lives of people are in danger due to the harmful effects of various elements in the air.
And this directly affects the average life expectancy of the people of Bangladesh. And thus, due to air pollution about 7 years are being lost from the average human life.
This information has been revealed in a recent study by the Energy Policy Institute (EPIC) of the University of Chicago in the United States.
Referring to Bangladesh as ‘one of the most polluted countries in the world’ in a research report titled Air Quality Life Index, EPIC said that people in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal are losing an average of 5 years off their average life expectancy. Due to the effects of air pollution in South Asia.
Bangladeshis have the highest rate of decline in life expectancy among these countries – 6 years and 8 months.
According to the Air Quality Life Index report, air pollution also reduced the average life expectancy of the US population, but the reduction was only 3 months and 6 days.
According to EPIC, the presence of very small particles (PM2.5 particles) in the air is the main cause of air pollution in South Asia. According to the International System of Measurement, 1 lakh micrograms is equal to 1 gram. PM 2.5 particles weigh between 5 and 10 micrograms.
Generally, the main sources of these particles are smoke from petrol and diesel-run vehicles, coal-fired power plants, and building and infrastructure construction projects.
Analyzing data obtained through satellites, EPIC said in a research report that the presence of PM 2.5 particles in the air of the South Asian region has increased by more than 50 percent in just 23 years as compared to the beginning of the twenty-first century.
Due to this increasing pollution, the health of a large number of people in one of the most populated regions of the world is going to be at serious risk in the coming days.
India’s capital New Delhi is already known as one of the most polluted air capitals of the world. According to Epic, the average life expectancy of people in Delhi has been reduced by more than 10 years due to massive air pollution.
However, according to this American research organization, if the pollution conditions improve, the average life expectancy of people will increase. Quoting the World Health Organization, the report said that if the harmful substances in the air are reduced, then the average life expectancy of people will increase by at least 2 years.