i'm melissa chana welcome to the program it's good to have you with us air pollution is a huge problem around the world and we know it impacts our health now we know by how much toxic air shortens our lives by twenty months on average that's according to the health effects institute in their latest report the state of global air now that twenty number is an average when you break things down region by region you can see how asia stands out in south asia children lose thirty months of their lives in east asia people lose an estimated twenty three months that is five. times higher or maybe a better way to think about it is five times worse than what you have in north america or western europe aleutian is now a bigger killer than malaria and road accidents it's as bad as. here's a closer look. donning a face mask part of the morning routine for many school kids in delhi where toxic smog and the city for much of the year. some days twenty times above the w h o's recommended limit for dangerous fine particles in the air. india is home to fourteen of the world's most polluted cities exposure