Question : Health Hazards Due to Air Pollution

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

(a) whether there is a high prevalence of respiratory and other diseases due to air pollution and heavy smong across the country and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the details of various pollution related diseases on rise and deaths occurred therefrom in the country during the last three years, State/UT-wise;

(c) whether as per the survey report of World Health Organisation (WHO), several cities in India are considered as the most polluted cities, and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the corrective measures taken/ proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure adequate medical facilities for the patients suffering from diseases caused by air pollution?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)
(a) & (b): The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has informed that no study is being conducted to assess rise in pollution related diseases during the last three years. The CPCB has carried out epidemiological studies in the past to assess the impact of pollution on human health. Air Pollution could be one of the triggering factors for respiratory ailments and associated diseases. However, there are no conclusive data available in the country to establish direct correlationship of diseases exclusively due to air pollution.




(c): The World Health Organization (WHO) released ambient air pollution database in May 2016 which presents air quality with regard to particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), for 2977 cities covering 103 countries-‘WHO’s Ambient Air Pollution database -Update2016’. According to the database of WHO, 34 Indian cities are included in the 100 most polluted cities in world.

(d): Government of India provides medical facilities for patients through Central Government Hospitals/Institutions in different parts of the country such as All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi, Safdarjung Hospital Delhi, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital Delhi, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) Puducherry, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) Imphal, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) Shillong, National Institute of TB and Respiratory Diseases (NITRD) Delhi, among others.