Air pollution in northern China is slashing over three years off the lifespans of locals, according to the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC). The study found that air quality has dropped by more than a third since 2010, and will continue to do so for another five years. Average readings of PM2.5 pollution - breathable airborne particles of less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter - stood at 45 micrograms per cubic meter in China from January to July, with the northern Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region reaching 69 micrograms. The report adds that if China were to comply with World Health Organization air quality standards, its residents may live 3.5 years longer on average.
Air pollution in northern China is slashing over three years off the lifespans of locals, according to the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC). The study found that air quality has dropped by more than a third since 2010, and will continue to do so for another five years. The report adds that if China were to comply with World Health Organization air quality standards, its residents may live 3.5 years longer on average.