New data from the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) reveals that air pollution significantly reduces life expectancy worldwide, even though global pollution levels saw a slight drop in 2022.
If fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) met World Health Organization (WHO) standards, people could live nearly two years longer on average, translating to 14.9 billion life-years saved globally.
Air pollution, especially from PM2.5 particles, is the leading external threat to human health, exceeding risks from smoking, alcohol, traffic accidents, and HIV/AIDS.
According to the University of Chicago’s AQLI data, people in heavily polluted areas live 2.7 years shorter on average than those in cleaner environments.
In 2021 alone, air pollution led to 8.1 million deaths globally—about 22,192 deaths each day. Disturbingly, one child dies every minute as a result of air pollution.
Ghana’s air quality
Air pollution is a severe issue in Ghana, causing 28,000 deaths in 2019—more than malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis combined. Major sources include factory emissions, waste burning, and outdated public transport vehicles. Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTI) are the top illness in Ghana, with the Ayawaso West Municipality reporting 25,700 cases in 2023, nearly double the 2021 figures.
Michael Greenstone, creator of the AQLI and professor at the University of Chicago, notes that while air pollution is a global concern, its impact is particularly dire in some regions. “In certain areas, people lose up to six years of life due to air pollution,” he said. He also pointed out that the most affected regions often lack strong pollution control policies.
Air quality standards and monitoring gaps
Of the 252 countries and territories, 94 have established national pollution standards, but 37 of these do not meet their standards.
Over half of the countries have no pollution standards at all. Furthermore, nearly all countries without standards neither monitor air quality nor provide transparent data on pollution levels.
This lack of data makes it difficult to implement effective pollution control measures.
Efforts to combat air pollution
The Clean Air Fund, a global initiative, invested over $700,000 in Ghana in 2023 to tackle air pollution. Accra has also joined the Breathe Cities Initiative, aiming to cut air pollution and carbon emissions by 30% while enhancing public health. Desmond Appiah, Country Lead for the Clean Air Fund, emphasized the urgent need for local research to better connect pollution levels with health outcomes.