The residents in Haryana are losing an average lifespan of 8.4 years due to exposure to severe air pollution in the state.

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The air quality life index (AQLI), released by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) on Wednesday stated that citizens in Haryana can live upto 8.4 years more on an Average, if particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration in the state is at the level of 10 g/m3(mili-micrograms per meter cube) which is deemed safe by the World Health Organization.

According to the study report on AQLI released by the U.S. research group, Haryana is the fourth worst affected state in the country recording alarming levels of Air Pollution. The annual average PM 2.5 concentration in Haryana was 96 g/m3 in 2019. The air pollution is reducing the life expectancy of people by 5.5 years in Haryana, relative to what it would be if the safe limits for PM 2.5 levels in India i.e. 40ug/m3 is met, the report said.

The AQLI, developed by EPIC, converts air pollution concentrations into their impact on life expectancy and tells how much longer can we live if we breathe in clean air.

On sustained exposure to particulate pollution in neighboring states of Punjab and Himachal where WHO guidelines were not met, the findings in the report stated that this has shortened the lives of people

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in Punjab by 5.6 years and in Himachal, by 2.9 years.

In the union territory of Chandigarh, which is the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, the residents are losing upto 5.5 years of their lives due to exposure to air pollution.

The 510 million residents of northern India, 40 percent of the countrys Population, are on track to lose 8.5 years of life expectancy on average, if pollution levels of 2019 persist, said the report.

Notably, the northern state of Haryana faces a major challenge to improve the worsening air quality due to continuous Growth of urban population, industrial emissions, motor vehicle emissions and the stubble burning.

Many major cities in Haryana have reported air quality index in the severe category over the past few years. Gurugram and Faridabad, which lie to the national capital region, have reported an air quality index of over 400.

An AQI between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor and 401-500 severe.