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Delhi Pollution: Delhi’s toxic air is once again in the headlines. A new report by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) says 17,188 deaths in the capital in 2023 are directly attributable to air pollution. This means that pollution was the cause of one out of every seven deaths.
According to the report, particulate matter (PM2.5), i.e., particulate pollutants in the air, is still the leading cause of deaths in Delhi. According to an analysis by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), around 15% of all deaths in Delhi in 2023 were attributed to pollution.
The report also said that Delhi’s polluted air has become more dangerous than traditional health risks like high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.
Other leading causes of death in Delhi in 2023
High blood pressure: 14,874 deaths (12.5%)
High blood sugar (diabetes): 10,653 deaths (9%)
High cholesterol: 7,267 deaths (6%)
Obesity (high BMI): 6,698 deaths (5.6%)
Experts say that Delhi’s air is becoming more toxic year by year. PM2.5 levels are consistently several times higher than World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Lung disease, heart disease, stroke and asthma among children have increased sharply due to pollution.
The CREA report also says that pollution is no longer just an environmental issue, but a public health crisis.
If Delhi is to be saved from this menace, experts say, the government needs strong science-based policies and drastic action, including measures like controlling industrial emissions, tightening vehicular emissions and expanding green zones.
The report warned that if immediate action is not taken, the death toll due to pollution in Delhi could become more alarming in the coming years.
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