Impact of air pollution on life expectancy: the role of digitalization, urbanization and institutional quality in BRICS economies

Air pollution lowers life expectancy (LEX) by increasing the risk of respiratory, cardiovascular, and other chronic diseases. However, digitalization can help monitor air quality and support public health awareness through real-time data. Institutional quality ensures effective enforcement of environmental regulations and pollution control policies. Together, they help reduce pollution exposure and protect public health. Therefore, the current study aims to analyze the impact of Air pollution on LEX, with the role of urbanization, digitalization, and institutional quality in BRICS economies. This study employs the Cross-Sectionally Augmented Autoregressive Distributed Lag (CS-ARDL) model, the Fixed Effects estimator, and the Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) technique. The findings indicate that CO 2 emissions have a negative impact on LEX, whereas GDP, urbanization, digitalization, and institutional quality have a positive effect on LEX. This study recommended that policymakers focus on reducing CO 2 emissions by promoting clean energy and enforcing environmental regulations to mitigate their harmful effects on life expectancy. It also emphasized the importance of enhancing urban infrastructure to improve access to healthcare and sanitation. Additionally, the study highlighted the role of digitalization in strengthening health awareness and service delivery, and the need to improve institutional quality for effective health and environmental governance.