Bryan Johnson, the 47-year-old American tech billionaire on a mission to reverse his biological age, has once again highlighted the severe air quality issues in India, this time referencing a study that underscores the significant health risks posed by air pollution. Johnson’s comments follow a recent incident where he abruptly left a podcast with Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, citing discomfort from the air quality in a Mumbai hotel. He complained of a burning sensation in his throat, eye irritation, and skin rashes.
In a detailed post on X, Johnson referenced a study which showed how air pollution could lead to liver inflammation, fibrosis, blood fat imbalances, and gene dysregulation linked to cancer. The study involved exposing mice to low levels of traffic-related PM2.5 pollutants, revealing that prolonged exposure to even low-level pollution resulted in systemic damage beyond just the respiratory system.
Johnson emphasised that there is no safe level of exposure to air pollution, warning that addressing air quality in India could potentially increase life expectancy more than curing all cancers in the country. He also shared several measures individuals could take to reduce their exposure, including monitoring PM2.5 levels, wearing N95 masks in polluted environments, upgrading home HVAC systems to higher filtration standards, and using HEPA filters both at home and in cars, particularly in high-traffic areas.
