(a) whether the pollution caused by vehicles is harmful to the health
of the people ;
(b) if so, the names of diseases caused by pollution from vehicles; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to improve the situation ?
(a) whether the pollution caused by vehicles is harmful to the health
of the people ;
(b) if so, the names of diseases caused by pollution from vehicles; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to improve the situation ?
THE MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. ANBUMANI RAMADOSS)
(a)to(c) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION
NO. 239 FOR 14TH MARCH, 2007
The vehicular exhaust contains carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide, sulphur
dioxide, suspended particulate matter including PM-10, benzene, formaldehyde,
polycyclic hydrocarbons etc. Several epidemiological studies have shown that
the exposure to these compounds is associated with breathing and respiratory
problems, aggravation of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, adverse effects
on the immune system, damage to the lung tissue and carcinogenesis.
As part of preventive measures to check the pollution levels due to vehicular
emissions, the Government has implemented vehicular emission norms and other
control measures such as introduction of :
(i) Unleaded petrol.
(ii) Bharat Stage-I, II and II emission standards.
(iii) Low Sulphur diesel
(iv) Low benzene gasoline
(v) CNG fuels for commercial vehicles and public transport.
(vi) `Pollution Under Control` (PUC) certificate.
Central Pollution Control Board is the authority for checking the air pollution level in
various cities and for studying the effects of various control measures through the
State Pollution Control Boards.