Lok Sabha Question No. 3114 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-06
Subject: Impact of Air Pollution on Health
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Pritam Gopinath Munde

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3114 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6 TH DECEMBER, 2019

## IMPACT OF AIR POLLUT ION ON HEALTH

## 3114. DR. PRITAM GOPINATHRAO MUNDE:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the risks to health from pollution are far - reaching, not just limited to lung disease, as the exposure to air pollution has been linked to conditi ons such as heart disease, dementia, diabetes, stroke and mental health disorders and if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (b) whether the Government is aware that the patients with eye problems are increasing day by day due to pollution and ifso, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has arranged  sufficient  medical  support  to tackle  the  above situation and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether considering the recurring problem due to pollution, the Union Government is considering a plan with the help and coordination with the State Governments to make all required medical facilities available to tackle the above situation; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the progress made so far in this regard?

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

(a) & (b): Yes,Indian Council of Medical Research in collaboration with Public Healt Foundation of India and Institute for Health Metrics & Evaluation conducted the study titled 'The impact of air pollution on deaths, disease burden, and life expectancy across the states 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  attributable  to  air  po including 0.67 million (0.55 - 0.79) from ambient particulate matter pollution and 0.48 millio (0.39 - 0.58)  from  hous ehold  air  pollution.  Of  the  total  Disability - Adjusted  Life  Y ear s ( DALYs ) attributable to air pollution in India in 2017, largest proportions were fro respiratory infections (29.3%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (29.2%), ischaemic  heart disease  (23.8%),  followed  by  stroke  (7.5%),  diabetes  (6.9%),  lung  canc (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 syndro me due to constant exposure to a high level of air pollutants.

(c) to (e): Government has launched National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in January 2019 to tackle the problem of air pollution in a comprehensive manner with targets to a 20 to 30 % reduc tion 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  monit network across the country besides ensuring comprehensive management plan for preventio contr ol and abatement of air pollution and enhancing public awareness and capacity buil measures.

The plan includes 102 non - attainment cities, across 23 States and Union Territories on  the  basis  of  their  ambient  air  quality  data  between  2011  and  2015  and WHO report 2014/2018.  A  total  of  86  city  specific  action  plans  have  been  approved  for  gr implementation.

In view of probable linkage of Respiratory illnesses with deteriorating Air Q Index, Ministry ofHealth & Family Welfare has also initiated following activities:

- Initiation  of  daily  Sentinel  surveillance  for  Acute  Respiratory  Illnesses  in  Eme Department  of  Hospitals:  initially  in  four  hospitals  (AIIMS,  SJH,  LHMC  &  RMLH), further  to  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  hospitals  for  undertakings  appropriate  measures  for  manag respiratory illnesses in their hospitals
- Time  and  again  issue  Health  advi sory  on  health  effects  of  Air  Pollution  to  Health department of all States. This year health advisory was issued in September - 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 Healt Departments
- Air Pollution and Health effects campaign have also been run on  Social media (Mini of  Health  and  Family  Welfare  Website,  National  Centre  for  Disease  Control  Websit Twitter handle and Facebook pages)
- The  States  and  UTs  have  also  been  advised  to  initiate  sentinel  surveillance  for Respiratory Illnesses in at least four to five major hospitals in those cities which listed as highly polluted cities by Central Pollution Cont ro Board.
- Indian  Council  of  Medical  Research  is  also  conducting  a  study  on  'Health  Impact Assessment in twenty most Polluted Cities' in the country. The report of this study may be valuable in terms of linking various health effects of air pollution.