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Source: The post is based on the article “Study links PM 2.5 pollutants to anaemia prevalence” published in Indian Express on 9th November 2022.
What is the News?
A study has been released titled ‘Reducing the burden of anaemia in Indian women of reproductive age with clean-air targets’.
What are the key findings of the study?
Long-term exposure to fine airborne particulate matter — PM 2.5 pollutants — may increase the prevalence of anaemia among women of reproductive age through systemic inflammation.
For every ten microgram/cubic metre of air increase in ambient PM2.5 exposure, the average anaemia prevalence among women increases by 7.23%.
Among PM 2.5 sources, sulphate and black carbon are more associated with anaemia than organics and dust.
Further, among sectoral contributors, Industry was the biggest.This was followed by the unorganized sector, domestic sources, power sector, road dust, agricultural waste burning and transport sector.
Measures Taken: India has launched a programme under the POSHAN Abhiyaan aiming to make the country ‘anaemia-free’ and set a target of reducing anaemia in Women of Reproductive Age(WRA) to below 35% by 2022.
Suggestions: Anaemia prevalence will fall from 53% to 39.5% if India meets its recent clean-air targets, taking 186 districts below the national target of 35%.
About the Prevalence of Anaemia in India
Anaemia is characterized by diminished blood hemoglobin concentration and is often accompanied by a decrease in red blood cells. This results in a decrease in the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.
Women of reproductive age may suffer from anaemia due to menstruation, dietary iron deficiency, genetic disorders, parasitic infections and inflammation from infections and chronic diseases.
India’s anaemia prevalence among women of reproductive age (15-45 years) is among the highest in the world.
The National Family and Health Survey 2015–2016 (NFHS-4) reported that 53.1% of WRA and 58.5% of children under five were anaemic.
The World Health Organization(WHO) has set a global target to halve anaemia among women of reproductive age by 2053.
