BANGALORE: India's heat and dust image persists: the country was ranked the ninth most polluted country in the world by the Global Health Report 2014 on air pollution levels, by the World Health Organization.
The annual report was prepared after studying outdoor air quality and pollution levels in 1,600 cities of 91 countries across the world.
The effect is severe - the study blames seven million deaths in 2012 on exposure to air pollution, both indoor and outdoor. About 3.7 million deaths were due to exposure to outdoor pollution alone, the report says.
Exposure to polluted air takes a harsh toll on health too. Globally, 40% of the affected fall prey to ischemic heart diseases, while 40% suffer strokes due to it. Another 11% of people exposed to pollutants outside homes and offices suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.
Last year, the global body had ranked only cities on air pollution levels; India's infamy was then shared by two northern cities, Ludhiana and Kanpur, said to be the fourth and tenth most polluted cities in the world. Of 32 Indian cities studied, these two cities continue to have high pollution levels this year too.
TRANSPORT, ENERGY GENERATE POLLUTION
Excessive air pollution is often a byproduct of unsustainable policies in sectors such as transport, energy, waste management and industry. In most cases, healthier strategies are also more economical in the long term due to health-care cost savings as well as climate change. WHO and health sectors have a unique role in translating scientific evidence on air pollution into policies that can deliver impact, and improvements that will save lives.
Dr Carlos Dora | who coordinator for public health, environment and social determinants of health
