Bryan Johnson’s wake-up call: why India can’t ignore its AQI woes anymore

by Harsh Vardhan February 5, 2025 23 min read

(Originally posted on : Invezz )

It is almost certain that your Instagram, YouTube and now even Netflix algorithm would have introduced you to this eccentric tech multi-millionaire who is religiously committed to reversing the ageing process in humans.

So much so that his latest Netflix documentary is titled — Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever.

To most of us, he is just another ultra-rich man trying to leave a mark on this world by using his money in ways a common human would not even think, that seems to be the trend these days anyway, but a recent episode has brought him into the conversation like never before.

What happened, you might ask? He walked out of a popular podcast called ‘WTF’, hosted by Indian billionaire Nikhil Kamath, citing air quality at the plush sea-facing five-star in Mumbai’s posh locality of Bandra.

This, while there were several other outrageously wealthy people, sitting comfortably in the room.

As per the people present there, the AQI in the room was around 120.

The number might sound outrageous if you are reading this in London or New York or a lovely European city, but for context, it is as good as it gets in a major Indian city.

What did Byran Johnson say?

Bryan Johnson, the 47-year-old, took to X to comment on the severe health risks posed by air pollution, including liver damage, cancer risks, and systemic inflammation.

Bryan Johnson /dd

@bryan_johnson

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Indians are justifiably outraged by the poor air quality they are exposed to daily. It creates serious negative health effects.

Below is a study showing how air pollution causes liver inflammation, fibrosis, blood fat imbalance, and liver protein markers associated with…

7:55 pm · 4 Feb 2025

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Despite the presence of air purifiers in the room where the podcast was being recorded and his use of an N95 mask, Johnson complained of a burning sensation in his throat, eye irritation, and skin rashes.

He later revealed that the room was circulating outdoor air, rendering the purifiers ineffective.

The incident occurred in a luxury hotel in Mumbai’s Bandra area, where the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at around 160—a level considered unhealthy.

Johnson’s experience highlights a broader issue: the normalisation of air pollution in Indian cities.

“Pollution is so deeply normalised that no one even notices it anymore, despite the well-documented health risks,” Johnson wrote on X.

He expressed shock at seeing people, including children and babies, going about their daily lives without masks, despite the visible and invisible dangers of polluted air.

A study shows PM2.5 pollution causes liver damage and cancer risks

In a detailed post on X, Johnson referenced a study that examined the effects of prolonged exposure to low levels of PM2.5—fine particulate matter commonly found in traffic emissions.

The study involved exposing mice to PM2.5 pollutants collected from busy roads over 12 weeks. The results were alarming: the mice developed liver inflammation, fibrosis, blood fat imbalances, and gene dysregulation linked to cancer.

PM2.5 particles are particularly harmful because they penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, causing systemic damage beyond the respiratory system.

Bryan Johnson /dd

@bryan_johnson

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When in India, I did end this podcast early due to the bad air quality. @nikhilkamathcio was a gracious host and we were having a great time. The problem was that the room we were in circulated outside air which made the air purifier I’d brought with me ineffective.

Inside,…

5:54 pm · 3 Feb 2025

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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.

Zerodha’s Nithin Kamath calls for linking real estate prices to air quality

The conversation around air pollution gained further traction when Nithin Kamath, CEO of Zerodha and Nikhil Kamath’s brother, shared his own observations.

Kamath tested the AQI at Zerodha’s office in JP Nagar, Bengaluru, and was alarmed to find a reading above 120—a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.

He noted that the air quality in busier parts of the city, plagued by construction and poorly maintained roads, was likely much worse.

Nithin Kamath

@Nithin0dha

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The biggest takeaway for me after meeting @bryan_johnson was debunking the myth I once believed: that only Delhi in India has an air quality problem—and that it occurs only in winter.

We recorded @nikhilkamathcio’s (link in the following tweet) WTF podcast in a sea-facing…

10:06 am · 4 Feb 2025

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Kamath, who runs the philanthropic organisation Rainmatter focused on climate change and sustainability, suggested that real estate prices should be tied to air quality.

“Shouldn’t property prices be linked to AQI? The higher the AQI, the lower the real estate prices should be,” he wrote on LinkedIn.

Kamath argued that living in areas with poor air quality increases the risk of respiratory ailments, cancer, and other health issues, and this should be reflected in property valuations.

Air pollution is responsible for 9 million premature deaths globally

The concerns raised by Johnson and Kamath are supported by global data.

A report from The Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health revealed that pollution was responsible for 9 million premature deaths globally in 2015, making it the world’s largest environmental risk factor for disease and early death.

While deaths linked to pollution from extreme poverty have decreased, deaths from modern pollution risks, including ambient air pollution and toxic chemicals, have risen by 7% since 2015 and by over 66% since 2000.

Despite efforts by global agencies and national governments, particularly in high-income countries, little progress has been made in addressing pollution in low- and middle-income countries, where the problem is most severe.

India, home to some of the world’s most polluted cities, is a stark example of this challenge.

Practical steps to reduce exposure to air pollution

Johnson shared several measures individuals can take to reduce their exposure to air pollution.

These include 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, especially in high-traffic areas.

He also recommended using air recirculation mode in vehicles while travelling through polluted areas.

Kamath echoed these suggestions, emphasising the need for greater awareness and action.

He pointed out that while many people invest in water filtration systems, they often neglect air purifiers. “Clean air should be a fundamental right,” Kamath said, questioning why polluted air has become an accepted part of life in India.

A call for more research and collaboration

Kamath also highlighted the lack of research in India on the effects of poor air quality on public health.

He invited researchers in this field to connect with him, suggesting that large hospital chains could share anonymised health data to better understand the impact of pollution.

Rainmatter, he said, would be eager to collaborate with researchers working to improve air quality, with the ultimate aim of improving quality of life across the country.

The road ahead: Tackling air pollution in India

Johnson’s and Kamath’s comments have sparked a much-needed debate about air pollution in India.

While the problem is complex and deeply entrenched, their calls for action and practical solutions offer a starting point for addressing this critical issue.

From individual measures like wearing masks and using air purifiers to systemic changes like linking real estate prices to air quality, some steps can be taken to mitigate the impact of pollution.

However, as Johnson and Kamath both emphasised, the first step is acknowledging the severity of the problem.

Air pollution is not just an environmental issue—it is a public health crisis that demands urgent attention. As Johnson put it,