Air pollution is shaving a year off our average life expectancy
In some regions, fine particulate matter affects mortality more than breast or lung cancer
SHORTER LIVES Air pollution over India (seen in this satellite photo) shortens the average life span there by about 1.5 years. A new study calculates how much fine particulate matter pollution hurts life expectancy in 185 countries.
NESDIS/NOAA
Breathing dirty air exacts a price — specifically, months, or even years, off of life.