FROM PAGE 12

researchers quantify the likelihood of dying from diseases related to that factor at different ages in a population and calculate a “risk-deleted” life expectancy -- that is, the length of life that would be expected if the factor were absent.

According to the World Health Organisation, air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year.

Pallavi Pant, senior scientist at Health Effects Institute, told The Daily Star, “The burden on health due to air pollution is massive across South Asia, and we see that both in terms of deaths and reduction in life expectancy as well as the economic costs.”

She also said, “Currently, most countries in the region do not even meet the least stringent target values for PM2.5 or ozone. Data shows that there is a need to prioritise long-term reduction of emissions from major sources of air pollution. In doing so, the WHO guidelines and Interim Targets can serve as useful milestones or benchmarks.”

As his attention was drawn to the report, Prof Abdus Salam of Dhaka University’s chemistry department, said, “It is an established fact that air pollution reduces people’s life expectancy. The report has also shown us that checking outdoor air pollution is as important as curbing indoor pollution.”