University of Chicago releases its annual Air Quality Index: The University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute released its latest air quality index (pdf) this week, concluding that reducing particulate pollution — PM2.5 — to comply with the World Health Organization’s 2021 guideline of 5 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) would add on average 2.3 years to the average human life expectancy and save an estimated 17.8 bn lives.

What is PM2.5? The term references inhalable particles in the atmosphere that are usually 2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller. A concentration of 1 µg/m3 means that one cubic meter of air contains one microgram (10-6 grams) of pollutant.

Findings: 2021 data was a mixed bag, with MENA, China, the EU, and the US improving their air quality y-o-y, while parts of Asia and Africa saw pollution levels soar. In MENA, efforts to comply with WHO guidelines on reducing PM2.5 saw Qatar add an estimated 2.5 years in life expectancy to its population, followed by KSA with two years, Iraq at 1.9, Syria at 1.4, Egypt, Bahrain, and Jordan at 1.3, Kuwait and Lebanon at 1.2, Iran at 1.1, Yemen at one, Palestine at 0.8, Oman at 0.7, Sudan at 0.6, Morocco at 0.4, Tunisia at 0.3, Libya at 0.2, and Algeria at 0.1.

South Asia is most vulnerable: Deteriorating air quality in South Asia is expected to cut life expectancy for people in the region by more than five years on average as air pollution increases by more than 50% compared to levels at the start of the century. People from Bangladesh — the country with the world’s lowest air quality — can expect pollution to shave off 6.8 years of their lives. India is responsible for about 59% of the world’s increase in pollution since 2013, and low air quality New Delhi is expected to push down life expectancy by an estimated 10 years at current levels.

Some success stories: Among other notable findings, China had “remarkable success” in improving its air quality, effectively reducing pollution by 42.3% since 2013, and gaining 2.2 years per capita as a result, the report notes. The EU brought down air pollution by 3.5% from 1998 levels, and its populus can expect an increase of 4.5 months of life expectancy because of it. The US slashed its pollution levels by 64.9% compared to 2021 levels, and Americans are expected to add 1.4 years to their life expectancy, according to the report. 75% of air pollution’s impact on global life expectancy is in six countries: Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, China, Nigeria, and Indonesia, according to the research.

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