Rising air pollution can cut life expectancy by more than 5 years per person in South Asian countries, says study

A study report has said that rising air pollution can cut life expectancy by more than five years per person in South Asian countries. The University of Chicago's Energy Policy Institute (EPIC) said in its latest Air Quality Life Index report, the region accounts for more than half of the total life years lost globally to pollution. 

According to a study report published today, rapid industrialization and population growth have contributed to declining air quality in South Asia, where



particulate pollution levels are currently more than 50 percent higher than at the start of the century and now overshadow dangers posed by larger health threats.

The study said, people in Bangladesh, the world's most polluted country, stands to lose 6.8 years of life on average per person, compared to 3.6 months in the United States. The University uses satellite data to calculate the impact of an increase in airborne fine particles on life expectancy.