The Central Government has clarified in Parliament that there is no data available to prove any direct, conclusive relationship between high Air Quality Index (AQI) and lung diseases.
However, in Rajya Sabha Environment Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh acknowledged that air pollution is one of the major causes of respiratory diseases. He said that the government is mainly working on awareness and health protection measures to help the people affected by pollution.
BJP MP Laxmikant Vajpayee had raised the question whether prolonged exposure to dangerous levels of AQI (AQI Lung Disease) in the NCR region has resulted in fibrosis and permanent damage to the lungs. It also asked whether the lung elasticity of the people of NCR has reduced by about 50 percent as compared to cities where the air quality is better.
The Union Minister said that no scientifically proven conclusive study has come to light in this regard. However, he acknowledged that air pollution poses serious risks to people with respiratory problems and can lead to increased problems like asthma, bronchitis, COPD and allergies.
He said that the government has prepared information, education and communication materials in English, Hindi and regional languages to increase awareness about air pollution related diseases.
Special training modules are being provided to medical officers, nurses, nodal officers, monitoring centres, Asha workers and traffic police to deal with Air Pollution Health. The minister said that these are all people who are more exposed to pollution.
Referring to Ujjwala Yojana and Swachh Bharat Mission, Kirti Vardhan Singh said that clean fuel and clean environment are playing an important role in improving the health of citizens. He says that the government is continuously working towards improving air quality and reducing the effects of pollution.
Experts believe that more comprehensive scientific studies will be necessary in the future, so that government policy and health guidelines can be based on a more solid basis.
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