# Health and economic effects of air pollution in the USA and India: A comparative study of two nations' breath

## TL;DR

This study compares the health and economic impacts of air pollution in the USA and India, showing higher economic loss per person in the USA despite fewer total deaths.

## Contribution

The study provides a comparative economic analysis of air pollution-related premature deaths in two countries with different development levels.

## Key findings

- India lost $34.85 billion and 1.67 million lives to air pollution in 2019, while the USA lost $24.76 billion and 100,000 lives.
- Per capita economic loss was $20,868 in India and $247,600 in the USA, reflecting income disparities.
- Ambient air pollution caused 58% of premature deaths in India and 80% in the USA.

## Abstract

Air pollution is a leading cause of premature deaths in developing countries compared to developed countries. We aimed to analyze and compare the economic loss due to premature deaths caused by air pollution in the USA and India.

Data on household and ambient air pollution, mortality, population, and GDP were collected from the WHO Global Health Observatory, the 2019 Global Burden of Disease Study, and World Development Indicators. The economic loss of premature deaths caused by air pollution were assessed for 2019 in India and the USA by calculating the adjusted labor output per worker, factoring in the likelihood of a person being employed. However, reported mortality cases of air pollution can be less than the actual cases, so the actual loss can be greater than that calculated in this study.

The findings showed that in 2019, the total economic loss due to premature deaths caused by air pollution was $34.85 billion and $24.76 billion in India and the USA, respectively. In 2019, India and the USA lost around 1.67 million and 100,000 lives because of air pollution, respectively. However, the per capita loss amounted to $20,868 for India and $247,600 for the USA, highlighting the stark disparity in the per capita income. Despite significant socioeconomic variations, ambient air pollution is the leading cause of total premature deaths from air pollution, accounting for 58% and 80% in India and the USA, respectively.

Air pollution is rising in India and decreasing in the USA. The United States has implemented stringent laws and regulations, such as the Clean Air Act, to control air pollution, and India should benefit from this example. Moreover, monitoring the ground-level situation is important to reduce air pollution and associated fatalities.