Children between the ages of 1-4 years and the elderly between 60-95 are the most vulnerable groups, as per the study by the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) and the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD).

Syed Yusuf Saadat, a research fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), made the disclosure while presenting the findings of several studies related to pollution at a dialogue titled “Greening Cities through Reducing Air and Plastic Pollution” arranged by CPD in the capital’s Brac Centre Inn on Monday.

The presentation shows the number of deaths associated with air pollution was estimated to be 173,515 in 2019, which is about 20% of all deaths that occurred that year. Deaths from diseases related to air pollution have risen by 9% over the last 20 years.

According to the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) study, it is estimated that the citizens of Dhaka are losing more than eight years of life expectancy on average. Deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases are the highest, followed by chronic respiratory diseases.