India’s PM2.5 NCD Burden

Air pollution has emerged as one of the gravest health crises in India. According to the State of Global Air (SoGA) 2025 report, jointly published by the Health Effects Institute (HEI) and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), USA, India recorded a shocking two million deaths due to air pollution-related diseases in 2023. This marks a 43% increase from 1.4 million deaths in 2000, highlighting a rapidly worsening public health challenge.

Notably, nearly 89% of these deaths were caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, lung cancer, diabetes, and dementia, emphasising the PM2.5 NCD burden on India.

Rising Disease Burden and Mortality in India

India’s air pollution death rate is alarmingly high, standing at 186 deaths per 100,000 people, over ten times higher than high-income nations where it is just 17 per 100,000. States like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Bihar, and West Bengal recorded over 100,000 deaths each. This stark data reveals that air pollution in India is not just an environmental issue but a major health crisis affecting millions.

The PM2.5 NCD burden on India is further intensified as PM2.5 India exposure levels exceed WHO’s safe limits for 75% of the population, showing widespread vulnerability.

The shift from infectious to chronic conditions indicates that NCDs in India have become a primary concern, especially among adults over 60 years, where 95% of air pollution-related deaths stem from NCDs.

Air Pollution and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)

The SoGA 2025 report highlights the devastating link between PM2.5 exposure leading to NCDs in India:

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): 7 in 10 deaths are caused by polluted air.

• Lung cancer: 1 in 3 deaths linked to air pollution.

• Heart disease: 1 in 4 deaths attributed to PM2.5 exposure.

• Diabetes: 1 in 5 deaths associated with air pollution.

This data underscores the severe PM2.5 health impact in India, demonstrating how air pollution and chronic diseases in India are closely connected. The rise in air pollution-related lung cancer, diabetes, and dementia deaths in India signals a new dimension of health risks that require urgent attention.

The PM2.5 NCD burden on India is not only high in mortality but also in its long-term health consequences, especially for vulnerable populations like the elderly.

The Emerging Dementia Threat

A key finding in the latest report is the link between PM2.5 exposure and dementia. Globally, air pollution caused 626,000 dementia deaths in 2023, with over 54,000 deaths in India alone.

Prolonged exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) can damage brain tissue and accelerate cognitive decline, raising concerns for India’s ageing population. Women, who often act as primary carers, face additional burdens from this neurological health challenge.

Understanding the PM2.5 NCD burden on India is crucial for policymakers and SSC aspirants alike, as it highlights the intersection of environmental and public health challenges.

Policy Challenges and Integrated Action

Despite recognition by the UN and WHO that air pollution is a leading NCD risk factor, progress in India has been slow. The India air pollution mortality rate highlights that LMICs, particularly in South Asia, are the worst affected. Experts urge integrating clean air strategies into national health and development policies.

Key initiatives include:

1. Reducing PM2.5 exposure and heart disease cases in India through stricter industrial and vehicular emission standards.

2. Promoting awareness about non-communicable diseases due to PM2.5.

3. Strengthening healthcare infrastructure for chronic disease management.

4. Implementing national strategies to reduce PM2.5 and NCD burden in India, linking environmental reform with public health planning.

By addressing these factors, India can significantly reduce the PM2.5 NCD burden on India, improve air quality in India, and protect millions of lives.

Exam-Oriented Facts for SSC Aspirants

• India recorded 2 million air pollution-related deaths in 2023, a 43% increase since 2000.

• 89% of deaths were due to NCDs in India, like heart disease, lung cancer, diabetes, and dementia.

• PM2.5 exposure in India exceeds WHO’s safe limit for 75% of the population.

• Air pollution causes 7 in 10 COPD deaths and 1 in 3 lung cancer deaths in India.

• States most affected: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Bihar, and West Bengal.

• Emerging threat: air pollution-related dementia deaths are rising in India.

• The PM2.5 NCD burden on India is a pressing issue for the ageing population.

Final Thoughts

India faces a severe public health crisis due to air pollution, with the PM2.5 NCD burden on India contributing to two million deaths in 2023, a 43% rise since 2000. Nearly 89% of these deaths are linked to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, lung cancer, diabetes, and dementia.

Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5 in India) has been shown to cause 7 in 10 COPD deaths, 1 in 3 lung cancer deaths, and significant cardiovascular risks.

Vulnerable populations, especially the elderly, are most affected, and women face additional caregiving challenges. Addressing air pollution in India through stricter emission controls, public awareness, and integrated health policies is essential to reduce the growing PM2.5 NCD burden on India and improve overall air quality.