NEW DELHI: (Oct 31) Air pollution was the leading health risk for residents of Delhi last year, contributing to nearly 15 per cent of all deaths in 2023, according to an analysis of the latest Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data.
The report, based on findings from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), estimated that 17,188 deaths in Delhi were linked to prolonged exposure to ambient particulate matter pollution — or PM2.5, the microscopic pollutants that penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream.
In effect, one in every seven deaths in the capital was tied to toxic air — making Delhi one of the world’s most polluted and health-risk-prone megacities.
Public health experts warn that this figure underscores the city’s chronic failure to tackle air pollution despite decades of policy interventions. “This is a clear indication that air pollution is not just an environmental problem — it’s a public health emergency,” said a senior researcher involved in the study.
The GBD analysis found that air pollution-related deaths in Delhi were primarily linked to stroke, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, and lower respiratory infections.
The data further revealed that Delhi’s average PM2.5 levels in 2023 were nearly 20 times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended limit. Winter months recorded the sharpest spikes, with pollution levels regularly crossing the “severe” category.
Environmentalists say the findings highlight the need for aggressive measures such as curbing vehicular emissions, banning crop residue burning, regulating construction dust, and expanding green cover.
The Global Burden of Disease study, conducted by the IHME at the University of Washington, is one of the most comprehensive assessments of mortality and disease worldwide, covering more than 200 countries and territories.