Rapid increase in mortality attributable to PM2.5 exposure in India over 1998-2015

PM2.5-attributable deaths and years of life lost (YLL) due to specific causes during 1998-2015 in India were estimated using the integrated exposure-response (IER) model. The estimated PM2.5-mortality in India revealed an annual increasing rate of 2.7% during the study period. Spatially, deaths due to the exposure to ambient PM2.5 concentrated mostly in populated North India, and four northern states contributed 43% to the national PM2.5-attributable deaths in 2015. PM2.5-attributable deaths in India increased by 21% during 1998-2015 due to the changes of PM2.5 only, and deaths due to lung cancer (LC) revealed the largest sensitivity to increasing ambient PM2.5. The findings of this study suggest that aggressive air pollution control strategies should be implemented in North India due to their dominant contributions to the current health risks. Moreover, the rapid growth of LC related deaths with increasing ambient PM2.5 should not be neglected. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

During 1998-2015, India experienced a 2.7% annual increase in PM2.5-attributable deaths and YLL, with the most severe air pollution issues concentrated in North India. Aggressive control measures are needed in this region, particularly due to the rapid growth of lung cancer deaths associated with increasing ambient PM2.5 levels.