You are almost certain to have been introduced to this eccentric tech millionaire by your Instagram, YouTube or Netflix algorithms. He is a religiously dedicated to reverse the ageing of humans.
His latest Netflix documentary, Don’t Die: the Man Who Wants To Live Forever, is dedicated to this man.
Most of us think he’s just another rich man who wants to make a difference in the world. He uses his money to do things that a normal person would never even consider. That seems to be the current trend, but an incident recently has put him on the map.
You might be wondering what happened. He left a popular podcast hosted by Indian billionaire Nikhil Kamath called “WTF” citing poor air quality in the five-star luxury hotel located in Mumbai’s exclusive Bandra area.
The room was filled with a number of other extremely wealthy individuals.
According to the people in the room, the AQI was about 120.
This number may sound absurd if you read it in London, New York, or any other European city. But, in India, this is the best that can be done.
What did Byran say?
Bryan Johnson, a 47-year-old man, spoke to X about the serious health risks posed to us by air pollution. These include liver damage, cancer risk, and systemic inflammatory disease.
Indians are rightfully outraged at the air pollution they face every day. This has serious health consequences. Here is a study that shows how air pollution can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis and blood fat imbalance. It also causes liver protein markers linked with…
Johnson reported a burning sensation, eye irritation and skin rashes despite the air purifiers and N95 mask in the room in which the podcast was recorded.
Later, he revealed that the purifiers were rendered ineffective because the room circulated outdoor air.
The incident took place in a luxury Mumbai hotel, Bandra. There was an Air Quality Index of 160. This is a level that is considered unhealthy.
Johnson’s experience reveals a larger issue: normalisation of air pollutants in Indian cities.
Johnson wrote: “Pollution has become so normalised, that nobody even notices the health risks.”
He was shocked to see people, including babies and children, go about their daily life without masks despite the obvious and invisible dangers posed by polluted air.
The study found that PM2.5 pollution can cause liver damage and cancer.
Johnson, in a detailed posting on X referred to a study which examined the effects prolonged exposure of low levels of PM2.5 – fine particulates commonly found in vehicle emissions.
The study exposed mice to PM2.5 pollutants collected on busy roads for 12 weeks. The results were alarming. The mice developed liver inflammation and fibrosis. They also had blood fat imbalances as well as gene dysregulation that was linked to cancer.
The PM2.5 particles can cause systemic harm because they enter the bloodstream and penetrate the lungs.
The poor air quality in India made me end the podcast early. We had a wonderful time with @nikhilkamathcio, who was a gracious and generous host. The room I was in circulated air from outside, which rendered the air purifier that I brought with me useless. Inside,…
Johnson stressed that there was no safe level of air pollution exposure. He warned that improving air quality in India may increase life expectancy in India more than curing cancer.
Nithin Kamath, Zerodha’s Nithin Kamath, calls for a link between real estate prices and air quality
Nithin Kamath (Nikhil Kamath’s brother and CEO of Zerodha) shared his observations about air pollution.
Kamath checked the AQI in Zerodha’s JP Nagar office, Bengaluru. He was shocked to see a reading of 120, which is considered unhealthy by sensitive groups.
He said that air pollution in the busier areas of the city was likely to be worse due to construction and poor road maintenance.
After meeting @bryan_johnson, the biggest thing I learned was that my myth that Delhi in India only has a problem with air quality and that it only occurs in winter is false. In a seaside location, we recorded the WTF podcast by @nikhilkamathcio (link is in the tweet below).
Kamath, the founder of Rainmatter, a philanthropic organization that focuses on climate change, sustainability and environmental issues, has suggested that real-estate prices should be linked to air quality.
Shouldn’t the AQI be linked to property prices? “The higher the AQI the lower real estate prices are expected to be,” he wrote in a LinkedIn post.
Kamath said that poor air quality can increase the risk of respiratory illnesses, cancer and other health problems. This should be reflected when valuing property.
Globally, air pollution causes 9 million premature deaths
Global data supports the concerns raised by Johnson & Kamath.
According to a report by The Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health, pollution caused 9 million premature deaths worldwide in 2015. It is the leading environmental risk factor of disease and early death.
Deaths from pollution linked to extreme poverty are down, but deaths from pollution related to modern risks such as ambient air pollution or toxic chemicals have increased by 7% and 66% respectively since 2015.
Despite the efforts of global agencies and governments, especially in high-income nations, there has been little progress in addressing pollution, which is most serious in low-and middle-income economies.
India is home to some the most polluted cities in the world.
Reduce exposure to air pollution through practical steps
Johnson outlined several steps individuals can take to reduce exposure to air pollutants.
There are several ways to reduce air pollution, including monitoring the PM2.5 level, wearing N95 face masks, upgrading your HVAC system, and installing HEPA filters in both cars and homes, particularly in areas with high traffic.
He also suggested using the air recirculation setting in cars when travelling through polluted zones.
Kamath reiterated these suggestions and stressed the need for increased awareness and action.
He said that many people spend money on water filters, but they neglect air purifiers. Kamath questioned why air pollution has become a part of Indian life.
Call for increased research and collaboration
Kamath also emphasized the lack of research conducted in India regarding the impact of poor air on public health.
He suggested that large hospital chains might share anonymised data on health to better understand pollution.
He said Rainmatter would be happy to work with researchers who are working to improve the air quality in order to ultimately improve the quality of life for all Canadians.
Air pollution and India: The future road ahead
Johnson’s and Kamath’s comments have ignited a much needed debate about air quality in India.
Although the issue is complex and entrenched in its roots, their calls for actions and practical solutions are a good place to start.
Some steps can be taken, from individual measures such as wearing masks or using air purifiers, to systemic ones like tying real estate prices with air quality.
As Johnson and Kamath have both stressed, the first thing to do is acknowledge the seriousness of the issue.
Air pollution is more than an environmental problem. It is a public-health crisis that requires urgent attention. Johnson said,
Air pollution is not tolerable at any level.
It is now up to India and the rest of the world to take the necessary measures in order to provide clean air for everyone.
As new information becomes available, this post Bryan Johnson’s Wake-up Call: Why India Can’t Ignore Its AQI Woes Anymore may be updated.
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