Ever since US tech millionaire Bryan Johnson revealed that he walked out of Nikhil Kamath's podcast recording due to poor air quality, he has been a topic of discussion among social media users. In recent days, the anti-ageing advocate has also taken to X to defend his stand and explain how the poor AQI in India affected him. Now, in his latest post, the millionaire has warned Indians to "organise themselves" and said that finding a solution to the poor air quality is far more important for the country's health than curing cancer.
"A firestorm of debate has ignited in India since I walked off a podcast due to the poor air quality. Indians, organize yourselves and take action. You will do more to improve India's health by cleaning up the air than by curing cancer," Mr Johnson wrote. He also shared a meme that has gone viral since he walked out of Mr Kamath's podcast recording, saying that the pollution caused his "skin to break out in ash" and left his "yes and throat burning". The meme compares him wearing a face mask while indoors at a relatively better AQI to a child in Delhi waking up without any issues in a poorer air quality condition.
Take a look below:
A firestorm of debate has ignited in India since I walked off a podcast due to the poor air quality.
— Bryan Johnson /dd (@bryan_johnson) February 7, 2025
Indians, organize yourselves and take action. You will do more to improve India's health by cleaning up the air than by curing cancer. pic.twitter.com/niQs4jL8jx
Earlier, Mr Johnson revealed that he left Mr Kamath's podcast recording mid-way because he was unable to tolerate the room's air quality, which had an AQI of around 120. Praising Mr Kamath as a "gracious host," he explained the room was circulating outside air, rendering his air purifier ineffective. By the time he left, Mr Johnson noted the indoor AQI had climbed to 130, with PM2.5 levels at 75 micrograms per cubic metre - equivalent to smoking 3.4 cigarettes over 24 hours.
Also Read | Viral Pic Of 95-Year-Old British Indian Passport Leaves Internet Amazed
The millionaire stated that after just three days in India, the pollution triggered a rash, along with persistent eye and throat irritation. He criticised how deeply normalised air pollution has become in India. "People would be outside running. Babies and small children exposed from birth. No one wore a mask, which can significantly decrease exposure. It was so confusing," he wrote.
Mr Johnson even questioned why India's leadership had not declared air pollution a "national emergency" and cited studies on air pollution's health effects. "The evidence shows that India would improve the health of its population more by cleaning up air quality than by curing all cancers," he said.
Regular exposure to air pollution, including that coming from car exhaust emissions, can increased your risk of dementia, according to an analysis of studies published on Friday.
Delhi recorded its cleanest July in ten years on Wednesday, with the city's average Air Quality Index (AQI) dropping to 67, according to data released by the Central Pollution Control Board. The reading falls in the 'Satisfactory' category.
The Delhi government is planning on rolling out a competition to find retrofit solutions, offering a top prize of ₹50 lakh for workable technology that can upgrade older trucks to BS-VI standards.
Cloud seeding is the process of adding special substances to clouds to make it rain or snow in areas experiencing water scarcity, less snowfall, or to reduce hail and clear fog.
A study led by the University of York has found that sectors like shipping, aviation, and construction face much weaker legal controls on nitrogen oxide emissions compared to home heating or cars.
................................ Advertisement ................................
Opinion | Why Indians Have Just Given Up On Air Pollution CrisisTanushree Ganguly
Friday December 20, 2024While some may argue that people in Delhi are now more aware of air pollution than they were a decade back, my rebuttal would be that awareness does not mean that people are concerned.
Opinion | You Must Outrage Over Filthy Air More Than Once A YearJyoti Pande Lavakare
Tuesday December 10, 2024Delhi welcomed us with monsoon rains and mangos. We were home. Fast forward a couple of years, in the winter of 2012, I found myself in denial about something other parents, mostly expats, were calling toxic air.
Opinion | Delhi's Air Pollution Situation Is Like A Bad MarriageNishtha Gautam
Friday November 22, 2024On a good day, such as today, the AQI reading in Delhi is 407. We are jubilant at the sickly sunshine trickling through the slightly dissipated smog. At least its not 1600.
दिवाली... पराली... सियासी जुगाली!Ashwini kumar
Monday November 18, 2024दिल्ली-एनसीआर में प्रदूषण का समाधान तो आज तक मिला नहीं. हर साल चिंतित होकर हम-आप सांसों की तकलीफ के साथ-साथ दिल और ब्लड प्रेशर के मरीज भी क्यों बनें?
घर में कैद बुजुर्ग और हांफते लोग, दिल्ली की सांसों में घुला ये कैसा रोग?Nidhi Kulpati
Friday November 08, 2024हमारी हवा जहरीली हो रही है. गुरुवार की शाम को जब मैं इस मुद्दे पर लिखने बैठी तो AQI लगातार 400 पार जाकर दम घोंट रहा था. बहुत लोगों को यह मामला बोरिंग लगे, लेकिन जब आप अपने साथ काम करने वालों को खांसते-हांफते देखते-सुनते हैं, तो चिंता होने लगती है. सुबह उठते ही दरवाजे खिड़कियां खोलने के लिए डॉक्टर मना कर रहे हैं. बड़े बुजुर्गों के लिए तो मॉर्निंग वॉक बाहर की दुनिया से सीधे संपर्क का ज़रिया है, लेकिन डॉक्टर इसकी भी मनाही कर रहे हैं.