Nepal, Aug. 28 -- A new study has revealed that Nepalis could gain an average of 3.3 years in life expectancy if air pollution were reduced to levels recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The finding comes from the Air Quality Life Index 2025, released Thursday by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago. The report identifies polluted air as the biggest external threat to life expectancy in Nepal, measured against the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) standard.

In 2023, Nepal's average PM2.5 concentration stood at 38.3 micrograms per cubic metre-10 percent higher than in 2022 and 7.6 times above the WHO's annual safe limit of 5 micrograms. PM2.5 refers to tiny, toxic airborne particles that can penetrate dee...