Government today said that over 35,000 (rpt 35,000) people have died across the country due to respiratory ailments generally caused by air pollution in the past nine years.
In a written reply in Rajya Sabha, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said that 35,616 (rpt 35,616) people have died due to Acute Respiratory Infection during the 2006-15 period.
The Minister said that approximately 27 crore such cases were reported out of which more than 35,000 people died.
"Air pollution is known to be one of the aggravating factors for many respiratory ailments and cardiovascular diseases. Central Pollution Control Board had conducted an epidemiological study on ambient air quality, respiratory systems and lung functions of children in association with the Chittranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata," the Minister said.
Air pollution in general causes respiratory ailments and also may affect lung function. Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, etc are the diseases caused by exposure to increasing air pollution, he said.
"To minimise the impact of environmental pollution, particularly air pollution, the government has taken measures including notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards 2009, envisaging 12 pollutants, formulation of regulations/statutes, setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality, introduction of cleaner/alternate fuel like CNG, LPG, etc and promotion of public transport network, amongst others," he said.
