Air Quality Crisis in India: Bryan Johnson’s Concerns

Air quality has become a pressing issue in India, as highlighted by US tech entrepreneur and anti-ageing advocate Bryan Johnson, who stirred controversy by walking out of Nikhil Kamath’s podcast citing poor air conditions. As the discourse around his remarks intensifies on social media, Johnson has firmly reiterated his stance, alerting that pollution in India presents a more significant health threat than cancer.

Immediate Action Required to Address Pollution

In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), Johnson encouraged the Indian populace to take swift measures to combat the air quality crisis. He stated, “A firestorm of debate has ignited in India since I walked off a podcast due to the poor air quality. Indians, organise yourselves and take action. You will do more to improve India’s health by cleaning up the air than by curing cancer.”

Comparative Analysis of Air Quality

To illustrate his point, Johnson shared a widely circulated meme that contrasted his decision to wear a mask indoors in a moderately polluted environment, with an AQI of 120, to a child in Delhi, who appeared unbothered despite the city’s significantly worse air quality.

Critique of Normalised Poor Air Quality

Known for his dedication to a longevity-focused lifestyle, Johnson left the podcast during recording due to an indoor AQI of 120, which later escalated to 130, with PM2.5 levels measuring 75 micrograms per cubic meter—comparable to inhaling smoke from 3.4 cigarettes over a 24-hour period.

After just three days in India, Johnson experienced eye irritation, throat discomfort, and a skin rash. He argued that the alarming normalization of poor air quality poses serious risks to public health.

Health Impacts on the Population

Johnson described the scene he witnessed, saying that “people would be outside running. Babies and small children were exposed from birth. No one wore a mask, which can significantly decrease exposure. It was so confusing.” He also scrutinized India’s leadership for its lack of effective strategies to tackle air pollution, asserting that the issue should be considered a national emergency.

Link Between Air Quality and Public Health

Johnson concluded with a compelling statement regarding public health: “The evidence shows that India would improve the health of its population more by cleaning up air quality than by curing all cancers.”

India has consistently found itself among the most polluted nations globally, with urban areas like Delhi, Gurugram, and Noida regularly exhibiting hazardous AQI levels. Health professionals have long warned that prolonged exposure to substandard air quality is linked to respiratory ailments, heart diseases, and diminished life expectancy.