Fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) is estimated to shorten an average Indian’s life expectancy by 5.3 years and in Delhi, often labelled the most polluted city in the world, by as much as 11.9 years when compared to the (WHO) standards of 5 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3), according to an updated Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) released by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC).
However, an average Indian could lose 1.8 years of life expectancy and a Delhi resident up to 8.5 years if the country’s national ambient air quality standards (40μg/m3) are not met, says the report.

The Index, based on the WHO standards factoring annual average PM2.5 levels, shows many areas of India — the second most polluted in the world after Bangladesh — faring badly with air pollution shortening lives by 11.2 years in Gurgaon, 10.8 years in Faridabad, 10.1 years in  Jaunpur (Uttar Pradesh), 9.7 years each in Lucknow and Kanpur, 9.2 years in Muzaffarpur (Bihar), 8.8 years in Prayagraj (UP) and 8.7 years in Patna.