The World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2019 estimated that outdoor pollution causes 4.2 million premature deaths globally. The main pollutant responsible for these deaths is the fine particulate matter or (PM). PM can aggravate existing airway inflammation which can lead to severe respiratory problems.Apart from premature deaths, pollution can also lead to cardiovascular health risks, respiratory diseases and cancers. Cardiovascular DeathStroke and Ischemic heart disease (IHD) are the most common causes of premature deaths that are related to air pollution. Respiratory DiseaseChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) accounts for 15.5% of premature deaths that is caused by air pollution. CancersLung cancer can be caused due to household air pollution, especially in low-and middle-income countries. Exposure to carcinogens from using solid fuels like wood, charcoal or coal can lead to respiratory issues.What Did The Study Find?A week after the minister of state for health, Anupriya Patel, told the parliament that there was no conclusive data to directly correlate air quality and deaths, a study by the International Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai found the link. IIPS found that the risk of premature mortality increased across age groups in areas where air pollution levels exceeded the national standards. The study found that risks were 13% higher for adults, 85% for newborns and 120% higher for children who aged between one to five years. For infants, the risk increased by 104%. How Was The Study Conducted?It analysed the environmental and household air pollution data alongside the mortality data by the National Family Health Survey 2019-21 (NFHS). The analysis found that premature deaths increased in districts where the average concentrations of the tiny particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometres (PM2.5) were higher than the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) of 40 micrograms per cubic metre. "Despite India’s booming economy, the fundamental right to breathe clean air remains out of reach, leading to worsening health for millions of people and contributing to a growing crisis of premature mortality,” Mihir Adhikary, the study’s first author at the IIPS.The study also found that household air pollution resulting from unclean cooking fuel such as firewood, or cow dung or the absence of separate kitchens.