蜜芽传媒

Living in an area with poor air quality can take an average of more than two years off life expectancy, a new study by the Energy Policy Institute of Chicago says.

The global study says that the effect of air pollution from vehicles, industry and wildfires is comparable to smoking and is three times more dangerous than alcohol use.

South Asia is the worst-hit region, with Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan the most polluted countries.

Jyoti Pande Lavakare is advocate for cleaner air and author of Breathing Here is Injurious To Your Health and is based in the India capital, New Delhi. She told Newshour's James Menendez about how pollution impacts those in the city, including her family.

(Photo shows an Indian man and his family riding a bike during heavy dust and smog in New Delhi, India. Credit: Harish Tyagi/EPA)