Lok Sabha Question No. 2144 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-15
Subject: Consequence of Air Pollution
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Adoor Prakash, Kumbakudi Sudhakaran

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2144 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2023

## CONSEQUENCE OF AIR POLLUTION

## 2144. ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH: SHRI KUMBAKUDI SUDHAKARAN:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken/proposes to take any steps to address the increasing health concerns as a consequence of air pollution across the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has conducted any studies to evaluate the impact of exposure of PM2.5 on health of the children in the country;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to address the healthcare needs of police personnel and outdoor gig workers who are disproportionately impacted by decline in air quality in the country?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (PROF. SATYA PAL SINGH BAGHEL)

(a) to (d): Air pollution is one of the aggravating factors for respiratory ailments and associated diseases. Health is impacted by a number of factors which include food habits, occupational habits, medical history, immunity, heredity, etc., of the individuals apart from the environment.

National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Directorate General of Health Services, MoH&FW has issued Health Advisory on Air Pollution addressing the increasing health concerns as a consequence of air pollution across the country. [available at: https://ncdc.mohfw.gov.in/WriteReadData/l892s/3065716611669017053.pdf

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in collaboration with Public Health foundation of India (PHFI) & Institute of Health Matrix and Evaluation (IHME) had conducted a study titled "The impact of air pollution on deaths, disease burden and life expectancy across India" [available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(18)30261-4].

ICMR has also conducted a multisite study to document acute effect of increase in air pollution on respiratory morbidity. The study was conducted on patients attending emergency room of 5 sites namely [AIIMS(Pediatric, Adults), Kalawati Saran Children's Hospital,VP Chest Institute, National institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases]. For the purpose of study, air pollution was divided into three clusters (high, medium and low pollution days). In total 33213, which constituted 12.6% of number of patients who visited the emergency rooms were identified and enrolled with complete data collection. Analysis suggested that enhancement in number of patients attending emergency rooms was associated with increase in pollution levels. Effect was more pronounced in children. The relevant article can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-13600-7 .

Government of India has taken several steps to address air pollution issues which include:

i. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) aims to safeguard the health of women & children by providing them with a clean cooking fuel- LPG.

ii. Swachh Bharat Mission to clean up streets, roads and infrastructure of India's cities, smaller towns, and rural areas. Swachh Hawa is an integral component of Swachh Bharat.

iii. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has launched National Clean Air program in 2019 as a national level strategy to reduce air pollution levels across the country.

iv. MOHFW has launched National Program on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) at National Centre for disease Control (NCDC), with objective to create awareness, capacity building, health sector preparedness and response and partnerships related activities on the climate sensitive health issues in the country since 2019. Now the Programme has expanded in all the State/UTs and activities are conducted in the form of training on Climate Sensitive Diseases, Surveillance on Acute Respiratory Illnesses and Heat related Illnesses, generation & dissemination of Information, Education & Communication (IEC) on Air Pollution & Heat and its health impacts on health which include children. Further, guidelines on 'Air Pollution and its Impact on Children's Health' have been developed in both Hindi and English under National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health in 2020 and shared with States, for implementation.

v. NCDC under Ministry of Health & Family Welfare issues health advisory every year to the States/UTs to address health concern of the masses including that of children. Several workshops and trainings have been conducted for community level health workers on air pollution and its health impact on children's health.

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