Of the 17.05 lakh suffering from acute respiratory infection in Delhi-NCR, 981 people died due it between 2013-2017 according to a parliamentary committee, which called for immediate solution to air pollution in the national capital.
Polluted air is a significant risk factor for a number of pollution-related diseases and health conditions, the parliamentary committee said adding that infants, children and asthmatic patients were most vulnerable to it.
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The parliamentary committee, which held three meetings with the authorities over nine months, also said it was surprised to note that the Union Health Ministry was not taken on board in the high-level task force on air pollution.
“The committee recommends that considering the severe health hazards of air pollution, the Environment Ministry should take immediate corrective and preventive strategic steps in consultation with the Health Ministry to mitigate air pollution,” the report said.
Last year a UNICEF report had said that there was a growing evidence that air pollution can permanently damage a child’s brain.
The most recent World Health Organisation (WHO) 2016 report says that Delhi with a PM 2.5 level of 143 microns per cubic metre, was among the top 10 most polluted cities in the world. Delhi levels are lower than Faridabad but higher than Gurugram.
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