Extracting and using fossil fuels has a number of effects on people’s life and health.

First, air pollution shortens life expectancy.
In countries such as India and Bangladesh, air pollution is so bad that it is now reducing average life expectancy in some areas by almost a decade.
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Almost a quarter of the world's population lives in four South Asian countries that are among the most polluted - Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan.
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Over 20 years, air pollution in these regions increased by 44%, during which time the life expectancy of the population decreased by an average of five years.
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The air pollution is shortening the lives of people around the world by an average of almost three years and causing 8.8 million premature deaths each year.
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Especially dangerous is the inhalation of fine particles, which killed more than 8 million people in 2018 alone.
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Second, people living near places where hydraulic fracturing is practiced to extract gas and oil are at risk for hormonal imbalances.
(caused by endocrine-disrupting compounds).
, which may result in infertility, cancer and birth defects.
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Third, harmful substances in the air have a negative impact on fetal development leading to premature births, as well as infections, pneumonia, and brain problems in newborns.
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Of the total number of infant deaths registered in 2019, two thirds of them were caused by pollution.
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Fourth, oil and gas enterprises can cause damage to agricultural land.
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Oil spills can destroy the fertile soil layer.
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Among the measures taken by governments and businesses to reduce these effects and improve people’s quality of life could be increasing fines on companies polluting the environment.
[8b86]. , bringing the facilities up to date with the legal norms.
[8b86]. , sticking to international environmental agreements.
[2aaf]. , gradually reducing the number of coal-burning power plants.
[2aaf]. , etc.

Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: What effect does air pollution have on life expectancy?
A: It shortens it

Q: In which country has air pollution reduced average life expectancy in some areas by almost a decade?
A: In India 

Q: In which country has air pollution reduced average life expectancy in some areas by almost a decade?
A: In Bangladesh

Q: Which South Asian country is among the most polluted?
A: Bangladesh

Q: Which South Asian country is among the most polluted?
A: India

Q: Which South Asian country is among the most polluted?
A: Nepal 

Q: Which South Asian country is among the most polluted?
A: Pakistan

Q: How much has the air pollution shortened the lives of people around the world?
A: By three years

Q: How many premature deaths each year does the air pollution cause?
A: 8.8 million

Q: What kind of imbalances are people living near places where hydraulic fracturing is practiced to extract gas and oil at risk for?
A: Hormonal imbalances

Q: What causes hormonal imbalances in people living near places where hydraulic fracturing is practiced to extract gas and oil?
A: Endocrine-disrupting compounds

Q: What can hormonal imbalances result in?
A: InfertilityA: CancerA: Birth defects

Q: What share of infant deaths registered in 2019 was caused by pollution?
A: Two thirds

Q: How can harmful substances in the air negatively impact newborns?
A: They can cause infectionsA: They can cause pneumoniaA: They can cause brain problems

Q: How can harmful substances in the air negatively impact fetal development?
A: They can cause premature births

Q: In what way can oil and gas enterprises cause damage to agricultural land?
A: They can destroy the fertile soil layer

Q: What measures can businesses take to reduce air pollution and improve people’s quality of life?
A: Bring the facilities up to date with the legal norms

Q: What measures can governments take to reduce air pollution and improve people’s quality of life?
A: Gradually reduce the number of coal-burning power plants

Q: What measures can governments take to reduce air pollution and improve people’s quality of life?
A: Stick to international environmental agreements

Q: What measures can governments take to reduce air pollution and improve people’s quality of life?
A: Increase fines on companies polluting the environment