Air Pollution In Northern China Steals 5 Years Of Life From The Average Person

China Photos/Getty ImagesSmoke billows from a coal-fuelled plant in Yanji, ChinaA new report suggests that air pollution in Northern China has shaved 5.5 years off the lifespan of people who live there, compared to those who live in the south of China.

The study [PDF], published in the Proceeding of the National Academy of Science on Monday, July 8, blames China's Huai River policy for the decrease in life expectancy.

The policy provided free coal for boilers to residents in cities North of the Huai River during the winter months between 1950 and 1980. Coal ash from the boilers led to an increased incidence of death from heart and lung problems due to pollution.

The researchers found that total suspended particulates are 55% higher in the north. Poor air quality is "causing 500 million residents of Northern China to lose more than 2.5 billion life years of life expectancy," the authors write.