1.67 million deaths of 2019 in India were caused by Air pollution, Lancet Study

Lancet Planet Health 2020 shows that 17.8 per cent of total deaths in India during the year 2019 were caused by Air pollution. Majority of the deaths among these extended the cause of deaths to ambient particulate matter pollution and households' pollution,

Study shows that premature deaths and morbidity caused by air pollution has caused an economic loss of 28.8 billion dollars and 8 billion dollars respectively. This total loss is found to be equal to 1.36 per cent of India's GDP. Within India, Delhi had the highest per capita lost due to air pollution. Between 1990 and 2019 burden of household pollution has been observed to have an appreciable decrease. However, the burden due to ambient particulate matter pollution and ozone pollution has found to increase.

Report asked for successful reduction of air pollution in India through state-specific strategies which would, in turn, will lead to substantial benefits for both the health of the population and the economy. "Air pollution control in India is not an expenditure, but rather an essential investment in the country's future economic growth. Strengthening the ongoing efforts to manage and prevent air pollution would help in avoiding the substantial economic losses attributable to air pollution in the states of India" study pointed out.