India, March 4 -- Global air pollution shortened life expectancy by an average of three years

A new study published by journal Cardiovascular Research on March 3, 2020, showed air pollution was responsible for cutting life expectancy on a scale greater than diseases, wars and other forms of violence. Researchers said the findings suggested the world faced an air pollution 'pandemic'.

Global air pollution shortened life expectancy by an average of three years or 8.8 million premature deaths a year in 2015, according to the study.

Tobacco, by comparison, shortened life expectancy by an average of 2.2 years or 7.2 million deaths. HIV/AIDS reduced life expectancy by an average of 0.7 years (one million deaths), while diseases carried by pa...