Lok Sabha Question No. 1082 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-10
Subject: LANCET Report on the Health Impacts of PM 2.5
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Sasikanth Senthil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1082

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.02.2025

## LANCET Report on the Health Impacts of PM 2.5

## 1082.   SHRI SASIKANTH SENTHIL:

Will  the  Minister  of ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the recent LANCET report, which finds 7.2 percent of  all  deaths  in  India  are  attributable  to  daily  PM2.5  exposure  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) whether the assessments have been made on the regional health impacts of air pollution, particularly in areas with consistently high PM2.5 levels, particularly Delhi and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the steps taken proposed to be taken by the Government to enhance public awareness and education on the health risks of PM2.5 exposure;
- (d) the  measures  taken/  proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  strengthen  healthcare infrastructure  and  medical  interventions  for  pollution-related  illnesses,  particularly  in urban and industrial areas; and
- (e) the specific measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to protect the health of poor and vulnerable populations, who are disproportionately affected by air pollution?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) : There is no conclusive data available to establish a direct correlation of death exclusively by air  pollution.  Air  pollution  is  one  of  the  many  factors  affecting  respiratory  ailments  and associated  diseases.  Health  is  impacted  by  a  number  of  factors  which  include  food  habits, occupational  habits,  socio-economic  status,  medical  history,  immunity,  heredity,  etc.,  of  the individuals apart from the environment.

The  article  published  in  the  Lancet  Planet  Health  Journal  'Ambient  air  pollution  and  daily mortality in ten cities of India: a casual modelling study' was based on study conducted using statistical models and cited its limitations that the study was unable to conduct analysis of causespecific mortality.

(b)  : National  Environmental Health Profile Study has been awarded to assess human health impact in consequence of exposure to air pollution in 20 selected cities including Delhi across the country.

(c) : The government has initiated several measures to enhance public awareness and education regarding the health risks of air pollution including exposure to PM2.5 levels. Under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), guidelines on 'Capacity Building and Public Outreach (CBPO) programmes' has been issued for undertaking awareness programmes by State Government and Municipal  Corporations  in  130  targeted  cities.  Further,  Mission  LiFE  actions  relevant  to  air pollution have been integrated with State and City Clean Air Action Plans for enabling citizens to  adopt  environment  friendly  lifestyles.    Further,  Swachh  Vayu  Diwas  is  organized  on  7 th September every year at National, State and City level to raise public awareness and encourage wider public participation to improve air quality.

Government  launched  National  Air  Quality  Index  (AQI)  in  the  year  2015,  through  which  air quality data of eight pollutants including PM2.5 is transformed into single number for effective communication of air quality status. There are six AQI categories namely, Good, Satisfactory, Moderately Polluted, Poor, Very Poor and Severe and are based on ambient concentration of air pollutants  and  their  likely  health  impacts.  Daily  AQI  bulletin  for  289  cities  is  disseminated through Central Pollution Control Board website and SAMEER app.

(d) & (e): Ministry of Health and Family Welfare prepared National Action Plan on Climate Change and Human Health(NAPCCH) and is implemented through planned short-term, mediumterm and long-term activities with a view:-

- i. To create awareness among general and vulnerable population, health-care providers and policy makers regarding impacts of climate change on human health;
- ii. To  strengthen  capacity  of  existing  and  future  healthcare  workforce  to  combat  health conditions / diseases due to variability in climate;
- iii. To  strengthen  health  preparedness  and  response  by  performing  situational  analysis, developing  health  adaptation  plans,  setting  up  surveillance  and  early  warning  systems, building  low  carbon,  sustainable,  and  climate  resilient  healthcare  infrastructure  at national, state and district levels;
- iv. To develop partnerships and create synergy with other missions, sectors and organisations to ensure that health is adequately represented in the climate change agenda in the country; and
- v. To  strengthen  research  and  technology  capacity  to  fill  the  evidence  gap  on  climate change impact on human health and its solutions.

The following measures have been taken by the Government to address the impact of air pollution on health by the NPCCHH programme of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare:

- i. The NPCCHH has developed a national 'Health Adaptation Plan for Diseases due to Air Pollution'
- ii. National Action Plan on Air Pollution and Health was developed in year 2021. States and UTs have also developed their State Action Plan on Climate Change and Human Health. This  state  specific  action  plan  contains  dedicated  chapter  on  Air  Pollution  and  health about interventions to reduce the impact of air pollution on health.
- iii. States/UTs issue public health advisory on air pollution related health matters every year so that people are aware on the Do's and Don'ts to minimise, protect and prevent on the health impacts related to air pollution.
- iv. States/UTs have been provided IEC materials in English and Hindi (Posters, Audio and Videos)  including  regional  languages  to  generate  widespread  public  awareness  by disseminating to the community including other stakeholders in the States /UTs. Separate IEC for Children has been developed.
- v. Nationwide campaigns are held on certain International Days such as International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, World Environment Day to generate more awareness among the people regarding air pollution and its health effects.
- vi. Surveillance  on  air  pollution  related  illnesses  are  conducted  from  designated  sentinel hospitals in the States/ UTs to help understand the trend of health problems with respect to Air Quality Index (AQI) level.
- vii. The NPCCHH has developed Training Manuals on Air Pollution and Health and trainings have  been  provided  to  programme  officers,  health  professionals  and  community  level health workers and surveillance nodal officers under NPCCHH
- viii. Capacity building of the health professionals and community level health workers on air pollution and health so that health related action plans are taken up in the States/UTs for tackling the health problems in the health sector including in the community.
- ix. Air  Quality  Index  (AQI)  alerts  and  forecasts  generated  by  IMD  and  CPCB  are  shared with States/UTs regularly for timely action.

Industries have been mandated to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in and around project area through implementation of environment management plan and CSR activities. Specific condition in this regard are stipulated in environmental clearance issued under EIA Notification, 2006.

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