Parliament Question: Impact on Health due to Air Pollution

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 5746 TO BE ANSWEREDON27.03.2026 IMPACTON HEALTH DUE TOAIR POLLUTION

5746.SHRIGOVIND MAKTHAPPAKARJOL:

Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:

(a) the details of increasing levels of air pollution levels in various parts of the country and their impact onpublic health,particularly onlunginfectionsandrespiratory diseases, State/UT- wise;

(b) whether the Government has conductedany study to assess the linkbetween rising air pollutionlevels and increasing hospital admissions and mortality due to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and if so, the detailsthereof; and

(c) the preventive measures taken or being taken by the Government and the public health advisories issued to protect vulnerable groups including children, the elderly and persons with pre-existing respiratory conditions? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a): Air pollution is one of the factors affecting respiratory ailments and associated diseases. Health is impacted by several factors, including food habits, occupational habits, socio- economic status, medical history, immunity, heredity, etc., of the individualsincluding children apartfrom the environment. Details

oftheairpollutionlevelsinthevariouscitiesofIndiamaybeseenathttps://cpcb.nic.in/AQI_Bulletin.php.

(b):CentralPollutionControlBoardsponsoredthefollowingstudiesontheimpactofairpollution:

I. “Health impact of firecrackers bursting during Diwali in the National Capital of Delhi” conductedbyMaulana Azad Medical College,Delhi (MAMC); 2019-2024.

II. "Does air quality from crop residue burning in close proximity to residential areas adversely affect respiratory health?” conducted inPunjabbyTERI,Delhi, 2018- 2019.

III. “Impact of Traffic Emissions on Health Amongst Adolescents in Delhi” conducted by InternationalInstitute of HealthManagement Research, (IIHMR), 2019-2021.

IV. “EpidemiologicalStudyonEffect ofAir PollutiononHuman Health(adults) inDelhi”, conductedbyChittaranjan National CancerInstitute, Kolkata; 2002–2005 V. “Health effects of chronic exposure to smoke from biomass fuel burning in rural

households: a study in Northern and Eastern India” conducted by Chittaranjan National CancerInstitute, Kolkata; 2008- 2012.VI. “StudyonAmbientAirQuality,RespiratorySymptomsandLungFunctionofChildrenin Delhi”,conductedbyChittaranjan National CancerInstitute, Kolkata; 2003-2005.

(c): Government of India has taken several steps to address air pollution issues which are placed at Annexure. ******ANNEXURE Government of India has taken several steps to address air pollution issues across the country. These

include:

1. Implementation of National Programme for Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) with an objective to create awareness, capacity building, health sector preparedness and response and partnerships related activities on the climate sensitive health issues in the country since 2019. The details of the

programmeareasbelow: i. Under NPCCHH, the Government of India has developed “Health Adaptation Plan” on health issuesduetoAirPollution. ii. It has also developed “State Action Plan” on climate change & human health for all 36 State/UTs. This State specific Action Plan contains dedicated chapter on air pollution which suggestsinterventionstoreducetheimpact.

iii. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare issues public health advisories to State/UTs suggesting waysto reducetheimpactofairpollution. iv. Nationwide public awareness campaigns are organized in coordination with States annually for World Environment Day (5th June), International Day of Clean Air for blue skies (7th September) andNationalPollution ControlDay(2ndDecember).

v. Dedicated training modules have been developed in area of air pollution for Programme Managers, Medical Officers & Nurses, Nodal Officers sentinel sites, frontline workers like Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA), vulnerable groups like women & children, occupationallyexposedgroupsliketrafficpolice,municipalworkersetc.

vi. Information Education communication (IEC) material has been developed targeting air pollution related illnesses in both English, Hindi and regional languages. Government of India has also developed customized IEC materials focusing various vulnerable groups such as school children,women,occupational vulnerablegroupslikeMunicipalityworkers, etc.

vii. Series of national level capacity building workshops have been conducted annually to prepare Master Trainers (State level Trainers) who can cascade down the training at State/District level in theareaofairpollutionrelatedillnessesandsurveillance.

viii. Early warning system/alerts for air pollution as well as air quality forecasts are disseminated from Indian Meteorological Department to States and cities to prepare the health sector as well as communityincludingvulnerablepopulation.

2. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) aims to safeguard the health of women & children by providingthemwitha cleancookingfuel,LiquidPetroleum Gas(LPG).

3. Swachh Bharat Missionaimsto clean up streets, roads andinfrastructure ofIndia’scities,smaller towns, andruralareas.SwachhHavaisanintegral componentofSwachhBharat.

4. Ministry of Environment, Forest andClimate Change has launchedNational Clean AirProgram in 2019 asa nationallevel strategytoreduceairpollutionlevelsacrossthecountry. *****