Air pollution linked to 12.4L deaths in India in ’17: Report

Air pollution linked to 12.4L deaths in India in ’17: Report

News:

Lancet Planetary Health report revealed 12.4L deaths in 2017 are linked to air pollution in India.

Facts:

Major Findings of the report

• One in every eight deaths in India is attributable to air pollution, which now contributes to more disease burden than smoking.
• Around 77% of India’s population is exposed to outdoor air pollution levels above the National Ambient Air Quality Standards safe limit
• With 18% of the global population, India suffered 26% of premature mortality and health loss attributable to air pollution globally.
• It highlighted that apart from respiratory diseases, pollution also causes ischemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer, commonly associated with smoking.
• According to report by Indian Council of Medical Research finding the average life expectancy in India would have been 1.7 years higher if the air pollution level were less than the minimal level

State Contribution:

• States in east and north India had highest levels of both ambient particulate matter and household air pollution. Punjab had some of the highest ambient particulate matter pollution.

Major Source of pollution burden

• Major sources include transport vehicles, construction activity, industry and thermal power emissions, residential and commercial solid fuel use, waste and agriculture burning, diesel generators, and manual road dust sweeping

Additional facts:

• National Ambient Air Quality Standards
  • Established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for harmful pollutants.
  • (NAAQS) have been set for six principal pollutants known as criteria pollutants. These are carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter (airborne suspensions of extremely small solid or liquid particles), sulfur oxides, and ground-level ozone (ozone is not directly emitted into the air but is formed by sunlight acting on emissions of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds).
  • NAAQS is applied for outdoor air throughout the country.
• National Air Quality Index (AQI)
  • Launched by the Environment Minister AQI under ‘Swachh Bharat’ mission in 2014
  • There are six AQI categories, namely Good, Satisfactory, Moderately polluted, Poor, Very Poor, and Severe. The proposed AQI will consider eight pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3, and Pb)