New Delhi Delhi: A committee set up by the Union health ministry has recommended that an action plan be framed to map exposure to air pollution in people's micro environment. For instance, the exposure of a person who spends a lot of time near roads or vehicular traffic, or someone who is exposed to pollution from a thermal power plant need to be considered. It says health implications of air pollution will depend greatly on the exposure as opposed to the current system of considering only the ambient air quality.
The committee chaired by Ambuj Sagar, Vipula and Mahesh Chaturvedi Professor of Policy Studies at IIT-Delhi, reviews existing literature available on health impacts of air pollution. The first-of-its-kind panel comprising public health and environment experts as well as health ministry officials was constituted a year ago. It submitted its report a few months back.
"The report suggests that health interventions must be guided by both emission and exposure estimates. A policy that addresses multiple sources of pollution will be critical for prevention and dealing with existing health impacts of air pollution. This is why we have recommended representation of many ministries and coordination between them," said a member of the committee. The health effects of air pollution highlighted by the committee range from childhood pneumonia and asthma to cardiovascular diseases (heart attacks and strokes), chronic lung disease, cancers and low immunity in adults.
But committee members are concerned over the delay in releasing the report. A senior official in the health ministry told TOI, "The report has been received but it is not sent to various ministries to get their comments. We are not sure when it will be released but steps will be taken on the issue based on responses from other ministries."
The strategies suggested for outdoor air pollution include reducing vehicular density, regulating their emissions to stricter standards, controlling levels of construction dust, avoiding burning of crop waste and garbage and decreasing reliance on coal-based power plants by shifting to renewable sources of energy.
"You will notice that the air act doesn't even mention health once. The report mainly highlights that health should be the central point of approaching air pollution," said a member on condition of anonymity.
Other members include K Shrinath Reddy, president, Public Health Foundation of India and Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, of CSE.
