Lok Sabha Question No. 987 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-07
Subject: Deaths due to Air Pollution
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 987 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07 TH FEBRUARY, 20 20

## DEATHS DUE TO AIR PO LLUTION

## 987. SHRI ABU HASEM KHAN CHOWDHURY:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Government is aware of the impact of air pollution in New Delhi on the health people, if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  or  any  organization  un der  the  administrative  control  of  the Government including All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has carried out any on gauging the impact of air pollution on the public health in context of India, if so, thereof;
- (c) if not, the manner in which the Government proposes to combat the diseases caused due to pollution without having the credible causal links between air pollution and its impact o health in context of India;
- (d) whether any deaths in the country have been caused due to air pollution; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) :    As per widely available literature, it is a known fact that Air Pollution adversely affects human health .

As per Air Quality Level recorded and displayed at website of Central Pollution Co Board, New Delhi, Air quality worsening has been observed during the winter months ( October toMarch). The worsening of A irQ uality levels seems to be directly proportional to increase in patients reporting at Emergency departments of hospitals complaining of increased respi difficulty in almost all age groups especially in vulnerable populati on.

- (b): Indian  Council  of  Medical  Research (ICMR) in  collaboration  with  Public  Health Foundation of  India and  Institute for Health Metrics & Evaluation conducted the study 'The impact of air pollution on deaths, disease burden, and life expectan cy across the S tates of India: The Global Burden of Disease Study 2017' published in t he Lancet Planetary Health 2018 on 6 th December 2018.According to article 1.24 million (1.09 - 1.39)  deaths  in  India  in  2017,

which were 12.5% of the total deaths, were at tributable to air pollution, including 0.67 millio (0.55 - 0.79)  from  ambient  particulate  matter  pollution  and  0.48  million  (0.39 - 0.58)  from household air pollution. Of the total Disability - Adjusted Life Y ear s ( DALYs ) attributable to air pollution in India in 2017, largest proportions were from lower respiratory infections (29.3 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (29.2%), and ischaemic heart disease (23.8%), foll by stroke (7.5%), diabetes (6.9%), lung cancer (1.8%), and cataract (1.5%).

Study done at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) alsoshows that 10 - 15% of people in Delhi suffer from chronic irritation and dry eye syndrome due to constant expos a high level of air pollutants.

(c):    In January 2019, Government launched Natio nal Clean Air Programme (NCAP) to tackle the  problem  of  air  pollution  in  a  comprehensive  manner  with  targets  to  achieve  20  to reduction in PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations by 2024 ,keeping 2017 as base year. The overall objective is to augment and evolve effective ambient air quality monitoring network across the country besides ensuring comprehensive management plan for prevention, control and abatem of air pollution and enhancing public awareness and capacity building measures.

The plan includes 102 non- attainment cities, across 23 States and Union Territories, the basis of their ambient air quality data between 2011 and 2015 and WHO report 2014/201 total of 86 city specific action plans have been approved for ground implementation.

In view of probable linkage of Respiratory illnesses with deteriorating Air Quality I Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has also initiated following activities:

- Initiation  of  daily  Sentinel  surveillance  for  Acute  Respiratory  Illnesses  in  Eme Departmentof Hospitals: initially in four hospitals (AIIMS, SJH, LHMC & RMLH), further t be expanded to two more hospitals in January, 2019 ( National Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases and Vallabh Bhai Patel Chest Institute)
- Providing  feedback  to  ho spitals  for  undertakings  appropriate  measures  for  managing respiratory illnesses in their hospitals
- Time and again issue Health advisory on health effects of Air Pollution to Health depa of all States. This year health advisory was issued in Septembe r - October 2019 and then again after Diwali when AQI deteriorated beyond very Poor -Severe levels
- Prepared  and  shared  IEC  posters  on  Air  Pollution  and  its  health  effects  with  State Departments
- Air  Pollution  and  Health  effects  campaign  have  also  been run  on    Social  media  ( on  the websites of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and National Ce ntre for Disease Control , Twitter handle and Facebook page )
- The  States  and  UTs  have  also  been  advised  to  initiate  sentinel  surveillance  for Respiratory Illn esses in at least four to five major hospitals in those cities which ar listed as highly polluted cities by Central Pollution Control Board.

(d)  &  (e): While  air  pollution  is  known  to  be  one  of  the  aggravating  factors  for  m respiratory ailment s, specific information on the number of cases and deaths exclusively due to air pollution is not available.

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