New
Delhi: Government
on Thursday said that air pollution is killing around 80 people in Delhi
every day, according to an international study released recently.
In a
written reply in Rajya Sabha, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said that
polluted air, particularly the respirable particulate matter is one of the
several factors responsible for morbidity and premature deaths.
"An
international study released recently has claimed that foul air is killing up
to 80 people a day in Delhi. The numbers of premature deaths given in the study
are based on the constructive estimates and extrapolations of data," the
Minister said.
He said
that government had sponsored two studies in Delhi, 'Epidemiological Study on
Effects of Air Pollution on Human Health in Delhi' during 2002-2005 and 'Study
on Ambient Air Quality, Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function of Children in
Delhi' which was carried out during 2003-2005.
"The
studies indicate that several pulmonary and systemic immunity and damage to
chromosomes and DNA and other health impairments are associated with cumulative
exposure to high level of particulate pollution that increases the risk of
various diseases including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases,"
Javadekar said.
PTI