Nearly 2,000 children die every day from health problems linked to air pollution, which is now the second biggest risk factor for early death worldwide, a report said Wednesday.

Exposure to air pollution contributed to the deaths of 8.1 million people — around 12 percent of all fatalities — in 2021, according to the report from the US-based Health Effects Institute.

This means air pollution has overtaken tobacco use and poor diet to become the second leading risk factor for early death, behind only high blood pressure, it said.

Little kids are particularly vulnerable to air pollution, and the institute partnered with the UN Children’s Fund UNICEF for its annual State of Global Air report.

Air pollution contributed to the deaths of more than 700,000 children under the age of five, the report found.

More than 500,000 of those deaths were attributed to cooking indoors using dirty fuels such as coal, wood or dung, mostly in Africa and Asia.

“These are problems we know that we can solve,” Pallavi Pant, the Health Effects Institute’s head of global health, told AFP.

‘Profound effects on next generation’

Nearly every person in the world breathes unhealthy levels of air pollution every day, the report found.

Over 90 percent of the deaths were linked to tiny airborne pollutants called PM2.5, which measure 2.5 micrometres or less, it said.

Inhaling PM2.5 has been found to increase the risk of lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and a range of other health problems.

The report aimed to link the rates of such diseases with air pollution levels.

But despite the “pretty stark” figures, the report could still be underestimating air pollution’s impact, Pant said.

It did not take into account how air pollution could affect brain health, neurodegenerative diseases or what impact using solid fuels for heating could have, she explained.

The report also found that ozone pollution — which is expected to get worse as the world warms due to human-driven climate change — was linked to nearly 500,000 deaths in 2021.

“Increasingly, many parts of the world are seeing very short, intense episodes of air pollution,” during events such as wildfires, dust storms or extreme heat, which can drive up ozone levels, Pant said.

There are “very similar solutions” for both climate change and air pollution — particularly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, she added.

More can also be done about using dirty solid fuels for cooking indoors, Pant said, pointing to how China had made significant improvements in this area.

More than two billion people cook on basic stoves or over open fires indoors, inhaling the harmful smoke.

Partly due to access to cleaner cookstoves, the rate of small children dying from problems linked to air pollution has fallen by more than 50 percent since 2000, the report said.

In May, the International Energy Agency announced that $2.2 billion had been pledged by governments and companies to improve access to less deadly cooking methods.

The report released Wednesday used data covering more than 200 countries and territories from the Global Burden of Disease study conducted by the US-based Institute For Health Metrics and Evaluation.

“Every day almost 2,000 children under five years die because of health impacts linked to air pollution,” UNICEF’s Kitty van der Heijden said in a statement.

“Our inaction is having profound effects on the next generation.”
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Prolonged exposure to polluted air with PM 2.5 particulate matter, which is 30 times thinner than a strand of hair, can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, a new study suggests.

A study by Lancet, a leading medical journal, outlines how 20% of type 2 diabetes is linked to chronic exposure to PM 2.5 pollutants. These fine pollutants are emitted from oil, diesel, biomass, and gasoline combustion. The study has wider implications in India due to increasing pollution and exposure of a large population to harmful air.

The Lancet Study

The PM 2.5 pollutant is often termed as a killer and is a major component of air pollution in urban areas. The study suggests that short-term exposure to PM 2.5 increases the risk of insulin resistance by triggering the autonomic nervous system, which is a pathway toward cardiovascular diseases.

The study found that a monthly exposure to PM 2.5 pollutants led to an increase in blood sugar levels and a prolonged exposure (almost a year) led to a 20% increase in risk of type 2 diabetes.

The link between air pollution and diabetes is higher in men groups from lower socioeconomic groups and those with comorbidities. Evidence suggests that PM2.5 is associated with chronic kidney disease in populations both with and without diabetes.

Around 537 million suffer from type 2 diabetes and half of them are unaware that they are diabetic.

Meanwhile, in India, an estimated 77 million people above the age of 18 years are suffering from diabetes (type 2) and nearly 25 million are prediabetics (at a higher risk of developing diabetes in the future), according to WHO.

Polluted Air In Indian Cities

Bihar’s Begusarai emerged as the world’s most polluted metropolitan area while Delhi was identified as the capital city with the poorest air quality, according to the World Air Quality Report. The national capital has ranked the most polluted capital city in the world four times since 2018.

With an average annual PM2.5 concentration of 54.4 micrograms per cubic metre, India had the third worst air quality out of 134 countries in 2023 after Bangladesh (79.9 micrograms per cubic metre) and Pakistan (73.7 micrograms per cubic metre), according to the World Air Quality Report 2023 by Swiss organisation IQAir.

In 2022, India was ranked as the eighth most polluted country with an average PM2.5 concentration of 53.3 micrograms per cubic metre.

It is estimated that 1.36 billion people in India experience PM2.5 concentrations exceeding the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended annual guideline level of 5 micrograms per cubic metre, the report said.

– With inputs from PTI

New Delhi:

 Bihar’s Begusarai emerged as the world’s most polluted metropolitan area while Delhi was identified as the capital city with the poorest air quality, according to a new report.

With an average annual PM2.5 concentration of 54.4 micrograms per cubic metre, India had the third worst air quality out of 134 countries in 2023 after Bangladesh (79.9 micrograms per cubic metre) and Pakistan (73.7 micrograms per cubic metre), according to the World Air Quality Report 2023 by Swiss organisation IQAir.

In 2022, India was ranked as the eighth most polluted country with an average PM2.5 concentration of 53.3 micrograms per cubic metre.

Begusarai stood out as the most polluted metropolitan area globally with an average PM2.5 concentration of 118.9 micrograms per cubic metre. The city did not even figure in the 2022 rankings.

Delhi’s PM2.5 levels worsened from 89.1 micrograms per cubic metre in 2022 to 92.7 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023.

The national capital was ranked the most polluted capital city in the world four times on the trot starting 2018.

It is estimated that 1.36 billion people in India experience PM2.5 concentrations exceeding the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended annual guideline level of 5 micrograms per cubic metre, the report said.

Also, 1.33 billion people, 96 per cent of the Indian population, experience PM2.5 levels more than seven times the WHO annual PM2.5 guideline. This trend is reflected in city-level data, with more than 66 per cent of the country’s cities reporting annual averages greater than 35 micrograms per cubic metre.

IQAir said the data utilised to create this report was aggregated from the global distribution of more than 30,000 regulatory air quality monitoring stations and low-cost air quality sensors operated by research institutions, governmental bodies, universities and educational facilities, non-profit non-governmental organisations, private companies and citizen scientists.

The 2022 World Air Quality Report included data from 7,323 locations in 131 countries, regions and territories. In 2023, those numbers have grown to include 7,812 locations in 134 countries, regions and territories.

Causing an estimated one in every nine deaths worldwide, air pollution is the greatest environmental threat to human health.

According to the WHO, air pollution is responsible for an estimated seven million premature deaths worldwide every year.

Exposure to PM2.5 air pollution leads to and exacerbates numerous health conditions, including but not limited to asthma, cancer, stroke and lung disease.

Exposure to elevated levels of fine particles can impair cognitive development in children, lead to mental health issues, and complicate existing illnesses, including diabetes.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Delhi’s air quality on Dussehra this year was worse compared to the previous two years, primarily due to the festival falling at the end of October, according to an analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).

The analysis revealed that the average PM2.5 concentration in Delhi on Dussehra, which was celebrated on Tuesday, stood at 101 micrograms per cubic metre, compared to 89 micrograms per cubic metre in 2022 and 93 micrograms per cubic metre in 2021.

Dussehra was celebrated on October 5 in 2022 and on October 15 in 2021.

Several incidents of firecracker burning were reported in parts of Delhi on Tuesday.

In keeping with the practice of the last three years, Delhi had announced a comprehensive ban on the manufacture, storage, sale, and use of firecrackers within the city last month.

A public awareness campaign, “Patakhe Nahi Diye Jalao”, will soon be reintroduced to discourage firecracker burning.

Unfavourable meteorological conditions and a combination of emissions from firecrackers, paddy straw burning and local sources of pollution contribute to hazardous air quality levels in Delhi-NCR around Diwali every year.

One of the primary factors responsible for Delhi’s worse air quality on Dussehra this year is the festival’s late timing in October, when meteorological conditions favour pollution build-up, said Sunil Dahiya, an analyst at CREA.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, in an exclusive interview with NDTV, spoke about the importance of biofuels in reducing world pollution and making India a carbon-neutral nation.

The Global Biofuels Alliance was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 18th G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi yesterday. PM Modi called on countries to join the initiative and set a global target of blending 20% ethanol with petrol.

“The Biofuels Alliance is a historic event that will help us reduce world pollution in a major way,” Mr Gadkari said. “Using ethanol in petrol is a major achievement, and it will be especially helpful for farmers, who can now sell their surplus crop to fuel stations.”

India is increasing its ability to produce biofuels, a renewable energy source derived from organic matter. The country imports more than 85% of its crude oil requirements, so it is looking to reduce its reliance on imported oil by producing biofuels from domestic sources.

The Alliance aims to secure the supply of biofuels, ensure their affordability, and promote sustainable production.

Mr Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, also spoke about the importance of green hydrogen in India’s future. 

“Green hydrogen is a futuristic vision for India,” he said. “It has the potential to make our automobile sector the number one in the world.”

In 2009, developed countries pledged to provide $100 billion per year by 2020 to help developing countries combat climate change. However, this never materialised. The Biofuel Alliance being agreed when the G20 presidency is with India, the world’s third-largest oil consumer, is therefore seen as a landmark moment for the country that is being hailed as the voice of the Global South.

“The Biofuel Alliance is a win-win situation for Atmanirbhar Bharat. It will help to reduce air pollution, create jobs, and make India a leader in the production and use of biofuels. The alliance is also aligned with India’s goal of becoming a carbon-neutral country by 2070,” Mr. Gadkari told NDTV.

The launch of the alliance coincides with India, the United States, and several major economies announcing an ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. 

The initiative, seen by many as a potential alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, was jointly announced by PM Modi and the leaders of the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Italy, and the European Union on the sidelines of the G20 summit.

Once completed, the project can serve as a modern-day Silk Road that functioned as the central trade route facilitating economic partnerships, political alliances, and cultural integration across continents. 
 

Rollout of rover of ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 from the lander to the lunar surface, as observed by Lander Imager Camera. File.
| Photo Credit: PTI

India protests China’s map claiming Indian territory, MEA says it ‘complicates’ border resolution

India has lodged a “strong protest” with China over the publication of a new map that was released by the Chinese government on August 28, showing all of Arunachal Pradesh, Aksai Chin, and other parts of Indian territory within its borders, that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar called “absurd claims”. The map, that has in the past claimed Indian territories as well, was published just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and discussed resolving the boundary situation. 

Pragyan rover confirms sulphur at moon’s south pole, searching for hydrogen

Chandrayaan-3’s Pragyan rover has confirmed the presence of sulphur on the moon’s surface, near its south pole, and is still searching for hydrogen, the Indian Space Research Organisation said. The Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument onboard the Chandrayaan-3’s rover has made the first-ever in-situ measurements on the elemental composition of the lunar surface near the south pole.

India to export rice to Singapore despite curbs, says External Affairs Ministry

India will allow export of rice to Singapore despite restrictions on export of the product. The announcement from the Ministry of External Affairs came as the authorities cited the special relationship between India and Singapore as the reason for this exemption. India had imposed restrictions on export of non-Basmati rice but subsequently, curbs were imposed on Basmati rice as well.

NHRC notice to Uttar Pradesh for attack on Muslim student in private school

Days after a video showing a teacher of a private school in Muzaffarnagar asking Hindu students of her class to beat a Muslim student went viral and sparked nationwide outrage, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government seeking a detailed report on the matter. The commission quoted media reports of the victim’s family saying that he was beaten up for a mistake in the multiplication of tables during the class. The reports also stated that the teacher, who also owns the school, has not been arrested yet.

Gyanvapi mosque | Fresh plea in court to order ASI survey inside Wazukhana

One of the Hindu petitioners in the Gyanvapi mosque worship rights suit has filed a fresh application in the court of Varanasi District Judge pleading for directions to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to undertake a survey of the Wazukhana area of the mosque (except for the Shiva Linga) without causing any damage to the structure. This main suit seeking worship rights at the mosque was filed in the same court by four Hindu women worshippers.

Rahul Gandhi’s Europe trip to coincide with G-20 meeting in New Delhi

At the time when India will host the heads of the government of G-20 countries, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be visiting Europe and will interact with European Union lawmakers. He will also address students at a university in Paris. Mr. Gandhi is likely to leave for Paris in the first week of September for a five-day tour and will meet with European Union members in Brussels on September 7. During the visit, organised Indian Overseas Congress, Mr. Gandhi will address the Indian diaspora at an event in Oslo in early September, a party insider told the The Hindu.

Will cooperate with Bengal Government on what it does, not whatever it does: Governor Anand Bose

West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose has said that he would always cooperate with the State Government but that support may not extend to “whatever it does”. Mr. Bose, in his free-wheeling interview said, “As the Governor, I will cooperate with the [State] government on what it does, not whatever it does.” “Each should play their role within their turf. Everyone has a ‘Lakshman Rekha’. Don’t cross the ‘Lakshman Rekha’. And most importantly, don’t try to draw the ‘Lakshman Rekha’ for the other. That is the spirit of cooperative federalism,” the Governor said.

Nitish Kumar predicts early Lok Sabha polls, stresses Opposition unity

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has predicted early Lok Sabha polls, due in 2024. He called for Opposition unity as a priority so that the BJP could be defeated. The Janata Dal-United (JD-U) supremo reiterated that he had no personal desire to hold any post in the Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) Opposition grouping.

Army signs deals for 130 tethered drones and 19 tank driving simulators

The Army has signed contracts for the procurement of 130 tethered drones and 19 tank-driving simulators under Emergency Procurement (EP) and they will be delivered in 12 months. The armed forces are currently executing the fourth tranche of EPs sanctioned by the Defence Ministry. In the last few months, the Army has issued several tenders for a range of drones and technologies including logistics, load-carrying drones, anti-drone systems, and loitering munitions, among others.

Keralites hark back to a utopian pastoral past as they celebrate Onam worldwide

Keralites continued to celebrate Thiru Onam, a festival monumentalising a utopian, egalitarian, non-discriminatory pastoral past that primarily existed in myth and imagination, with family feasts, floral decorations, fireworks, new clothes, group games and exchange of gifts, on Monday and Tuesday. Founded on a fable, Onam has evolved over the years as a secular national festival for Keralites. It has become a cultural holiday for Malayalis, regardless of their religious backgrounds

Air pollution now a major risk to life expectancy in South Asia: Study

Rising air pollution can cut life expectancy by more than five years per person in South Asia, one of the world’s most polluted regions, according to a report which flagged the growing burden of hazardous air on health. India is responsible for about 59% of the world’s increase in pollution since 2013, the report said, as hazardous air threatens to shorten lives further in some of the country’s more polluted regions. In the densely populated New Delhi, the world’s most polluted mega-city, the average life span is down by more than 10 years.

Prannoy achieves career-high world ranking of No. 6, Sindhu jumps to No 14

On a high after his maiden World Championship bronze medal, Indian shuttler H.S. Prannoy soared to career-high world ranking of No 6 in the latest BWF rankings published on Tuesday. The 31-year-old Kerala shuttler, who eliminated world Number 1 and Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen en route to his maiden World Championships bronze, rose three spots with 72437 points in his kitty. He is also the only Indian shuttler, who has maintained a top-10 rank since December last year.

Vehicles move on a dusty road as air pollution worsens during winters in Tongi area of Gazipur, Bangladesh. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Rising air pollution can cut life expectancy by more than five years per person in South Asia, one of the world’s most polluted regions, according to a report published on August 29 which flagged the growing burden of hazardous air on health.

The region, which includes the world’s most polluted countries of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan, accounts for more than half of the total life years lost globally to pollution, the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute (EPIC) said in its latest Air Quality Life Index.

Rapid industrialisation and population growth have contributed to declining air quality in South Asia, where particulate pollution levels are currently more than 50% higher than at the start of the century and now overshadow dangers posed by larger health threats.

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, according to the study, which uses satellite data to calculate the impact of an increase in airborne fine particles on life expectancy.

India is responsible for about 59% of the world’s increase in pollution since 2013, the report said, as hazardous air threatens to shorten lives further in some of the country’s more polluted regions. In the densely populated New Delhi, the world’s most polluted mega-city, the average life span is down by more than 10 years.

“Reducing global levels of lung-damaging airborne particles, known as PM 2.5, to levels recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) could raise average life expectancy by 2.3 years, or a combined 17.8 billion life years,” the report said.

“An average resident of Pakistan would gain 3.9 years from meeting the WHO guidelines of limiting average annual PM 2.5 concentration to 5 micrograms per cubic metre, while someone in Nepal would live 4.6 years longer if the guideline was met,” according to the report.

China, meanwhile, has worked to reduce pollution by 42.3% between 2013 and 2021, the report said, highlighting the need for governments to generate accessible air quality data to help bridge global inequalities in accessing tools to combat pollution.