Polluted air can reduce human lifespan more than smoking, new data shows

Breathing in polluted air is so harmful, it can actually have a greater impact on humans lifespan than smoking, according to new data.

Breathing in polluted air is so harmful, it can actually have a greater impact on humans lifespan than smoking, according to just-released data.

The latest report by Air Quality Life Index (AQLI), published on Aug. 29, analysed how fine particulate matter (PM2.5) lingering in the air, such as smoke and dust, has a profound impact on human life expectancy and health when there’s consistent exposure.

The report, which used 2021 data, stated particulate pollution can reduce the global average life expectancy by 2.3 years.

That’s slightly higher than tobacco use, which reduces global life expectancy by 2.2 years.

For comparison, child and maternal malnutrition reduces life expectancy by 1.6 years, alcohol use by 7.2 months, similar to unsafe water, sanitation and handwashing. HIV and AIDS is 3.6 months; and nutritional deficiencies just 1.2 months, according to the report.

The report refers to this polluted air as PM2.5 as the matter size is two and a half microns or smaller.

“This is a size that's small enough to not just get through your body's defenses and into your lungs, but even into your circulatory system,” said Christa Hasenkopf, co-author of the report and director of air quality programs at the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago.