The anti-ageing millionaire calls India's air pollution "deeply normalised" and questions lack of national emergency measures.
February 4, 2025: Tech entrepreneur and anti-ageing advocate Bryan Johnson, during a recent visit to India, abruptly ended a podcast recording with Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath due to intolerable air quality. Johnson, 47, who was in India to discuss his biohacking journey, left the session midway despite precautions like wearing an N95 mask and using an air purifier.
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The podcast, part of Kamath's "WTF" series, was being recorded at a five-star hotel with air filtration systems. However, Johnson described the room’s air quality as unbearable, noting that the AQI (Air Quality Index) was around 120 at the start and climbed to 130 during the session. "I can’t see you over there," Johnson remarked during the recording, highlighting the stark visibility issues caused by pollution.
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Health Impact of India's Air Quality
Johnson revealed that the air quality in India triggered several health issues during his three-day visit, including a rash and irritation in his eyes and throat. He later took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his experience, writing, "When in India, I did end this podcast early due to the bad air quality." He criticized how normal air pollution has become in the country, pointing out that people, including young children, are constantly exposed to harmful air without adequate protection like masks.
Johnson emphasized the severe public health implications of air pollution, stating, "India would improve the health of its population more by cleaning up air quality than by curing all cancers." He questioned why the country’s leadership has not declared air pollution a national emergency.
Air Pollution vs. Obesity: India's Crisis vs. America's
Johnson also drew a parallel between India’s pollution crisis and obesity in America. He noted that just as India normalizes air pollution, the U.S. often overlooks its obesity epidemic, where 42.4% of the population is obese. “When I returned to the US, my eyes were fresh to see what is normalized to me. I saw obesity everywhere,” he said.
Recommendations to Combat Air Pollution
Last month, Johnson shared tips for tackling air pollution in India, including using portable air quality monitors, keeping car windows shut, wearing N95 masks, and using portable air purifiers. His comments come amid the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) revoking Stage 3 of Delhi’s Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) due to an improved AQI.
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Bryan Johnson, air pollution in India, Nikhil Kamath podcast, AQI crisis, air quality issues, health and pollution, India environment news, biohacking journey, air purifier usage, environmental health challenges
Last Updated on February 4, 2025 by Misha Bhatia
