Air Pollution Now Considered Major Risk to Life Expectancy in South Asia

A new environmental report says rising air pollution across South Asia can cut life expectancy rates by up to five years.

一份新的环境报告称，南亚地区日益严重的空气污染可能导致预期寿命缩短五年。

South Asia includes the world’s most polluted countries, including India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. The area accounts for more than half of the total lives lost worldwide to pollution, the Energy Policy Institute said in its latest Air Quality Life Index. The institute is part of the University of Chicago.

南亚包括世界上污染最严重的国家，包括印度、孟加拉国、尼泊尔和巴基斯坦。 能源政策研究所在其最新的空气质量生命指数中表示，该地区占全球因污染而死亡的总人数的一半以上。 该研究所是芝加哥大学的一部分。

The report blames the air pollution dangers on fast industrialization and population growth across South Asia. Researchers estimate the area currently has particle pollution rates that are 50 percent higher than at the start of the century.

该报告将空气污染危险归咎于整个南亚的快速工业化和人口增长。 研究人员估计，该地区目前的颗粒物污染率比本世纪初高出 50%。

Individuals living in Bangladesh, the world's most polluted country, stand to lose 6.8 years of life on average per person, the report found. This compares to 3.6 months in the United States. The information is based on satellite data used to estimate the effects of increased airborne fine particles on life expectancy.

报告发现，居住在世界上污染最严重的国家孟加拉国的人平均寿命将缩短 6.8 年。 相比之下，美国为 3.6 个月。 该信息基于卫星数据，用于估计空气中细颗粒增加对预期寿命的影响。

The report said India has been responsible for about 59 percent of the world's increase in pollution since 2013. In densely populated New Delhi, the world's most polluted large city, the average life expectancy had dropped by more than 10 years.

报告称，自2013年以来，全球污染增量约59%是由印度造成的。在人口稠密的新德里，世界上污染最严重的大城市，平均预期寿命下降了10多年。

The report called for cuts in worldwide levels of lung-harming airborne particles to levels sought by the World Health Organization (WHO). If these cuts were reached, it could raise average life expectancy rates by 2.3 years.

该报告呼吁将全球范围内危害肺部的空气颗粒物水平降低至世界卫生组织（WHO）要求的水平。 如果这些削减得以实现，平均预期寿命可能会提高 2.3 年。

A person living in Pakistan would gain 3.9 years from meeting WHO pollution guidelines, the report added. And in Nepal, a person would live 4.6 years longer if the guidelines were met.

报告补充说，居住在巴基斯坦的人如果符合世界卫生组织的污染指南，将获得 3.9 年的寿命。 在尼泊尔，如果满足这些准则，一个人的寿命将延长 4.6 年。

The report noted that China has worked to reduce pollution by 42.3 percent between 2013 and 2021. The researchers said this shows the need for governments to produce and share air quality data to help reduce inequalities in getting tools to fight pollution.

报告指出，2013年至2021年间，中国已努力将污染减少42.3%。研究人员表示，这表明各国政府有必要生成和共享空气质量数据，以帮助减少在获取防治污染工具方面的不平等现象。