The average Bangladeshi people  could live 5.5 years longer if particulate pollution (PM2.5) met the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline of 5 µg/m, said a new report on Thursday.

In the most polluted areas of Bangladesh, such as the Gazipur, Narayanganj, and Dhaka districts, people could gain more than 6.5 years of life expectancy, according to new data from the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI).

Air pollution is the greatest external threat to life expectancy in Bangladesh, it said.

All of Bangladesh’s 166.8 million people live in areas where the annual average particulate pollution level exceeds both the WHO guideline and the country’s national standard of 35 µg/m.

Even in the least polluted district of Lalmonirhat, particulate pollution is 7 times the WHO guideline.

Between 1998 and 2023, particulate concentrations in Bangladesh increased by 66.2 percent, further reducing life expectancy by 2.4 years.

In the most polluted divisions in the country—Dhaka and Chittagong—76.2 million residents or 45.6 percent of Bangladesh’s population could potentially gain 6.2 years of life expectancy if particulate concentrations were reduced to meet the WHO guideline.

In Dhaka—the most populous district in Bangladesh—an average resident could potentially gain 6.9 years of life expectancy if air quality met the WHO guideline while  Chittagong—the country’s second most populous district—residents would gain 6.2 years.

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If pollution levels in Dhaka and Chittagong met Bangladesh’s national standard, life expectancy in these districts would still increase by 4.1 and 3.3 years, respectively.

All annual average PM2.5 values (measured in micrograms per cubic meter: µg/m) are population weighted and exclude the dust fraction from natural dust and sea-salt.

Air Pollution in South Asia

In South Asia, pollution increased by 2.8 percent from 2022 to 2023, after a slight dip in 2022 compared to 2021.

Despite these fluctuations, South Asia remains the most polluted region in the world—with pollution cutting life expectancy short by 3 years on average and more than 8 years in the most polluted areas.

Particulate pollution is the greatest external threat to life expectancy in all South Asian countries.

In the region’s most polluted countries, particulate pollution’s impact on life expectancy is nearly twice that of childhood and maternal malnutrition and more than five times that of unsafe water, sanitation and handwashing.

Climate-Driven Wildfires are Reversing Clean Air Progress

The United States and Canada suffered the largest increase in fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) globally in 2023, fueled by the worst wildfire season in Canada’s history, according to new data from the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI).

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The change is part of a trend—recent research suggests that climate change is causing an increase in the frequency of wildfires that is reversing decades of clean air progress made in the United States and potentially in other regions around the world.

Air pollution remains the world’s greatest external risk to human health

The AQLI data found that, globally, pollution increased slightly in 2023. If the world were to permanently reduce particulate pollution to meet the WHO guideline, the average person would add 1.9 years onto their life expectancy—or a combined 15.1 billion life-years saved worldwide.

This data makes clear that particulate pollution is the world’s greatest external risk to human health. Its impact on life expectancy is comparable to that of smoking, more than 4 times that of high alcohol use, 5 times that of transport injuries like car crashes, and more than 6 times that of HIV/AIDS.

“Air pollution remains a top reason why people are living shorter lives throughout the world.” says AQLI Director Tanushree Ganguly. “Throughout history, countries have both grown and developed and improved their air quality. Targeting fossil fuels at their sources will improve local air, as well as help confront climate change. Countries need the tools to set such policies—starting with better information about their air.”