Experts decode the fear of air pollution

Patna: Is air pollution a problem of the rich man? Is it limited to big cities? Is the situation really alarming in Bihar? Panellists raised these pressing issues and unanimously spoke out for urgent action to curb toxic air in the state while criticizing the authorities and "deliberate refutals" of a report by the government. # 39; WHO. had ranked Gaya, Patna and Muzaffarpur in fourth, fifth and ninth positions.

At a program organized by the Center for Environment and Energy Development (Ceed) on Saturday, experts discussed the findings of a report by Lancet, ] a scientific journal on air pollution and its impact on health. The report says that the scale of air pollution was critical in Bihar.

Lancet research indicates more than 33 percent of deaths in Bihar in 2016 (national figure nearly 27 percent) related diseases. Air pollution is now the second leading cause of premature death in Bihar after cardiovascular disease. In the 1990s, air pollution was the third leading cause of death in India.

Dr. Arvind Kumar, president of the Thoracic Surgery Center at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi, said: Instead of denying scientific discoveries, the government should accept that it is safe to say that it is safe to say that it is safe to say that it is safe to say. is a public emergency and take initiatives to change the game. "

According to Mr. Arvind, the toxic air affects everyone, whether it is rich or poor, because every man breathes more than 25,000 times a day. Every time people leave their homes, they are exposed to dangerous levels of dust and smoke. So, 11 million people in Bihar and 1.2 billion in India are at constant risk. "In addition to respiratory diseases such as asthma and lung cancer, cardiovascular risks such as hypertension and stroke are the most common among pollution-related diseases." 19659005 "" Gold Gaya, Patna and Muzaffarpur would not be among the most polluted. "

One of the panelists said:" The deliberate refutation citing methodological errors is due to the lack of sufficient data, in reason for inadequate control of pollution levels. Despite the evidence on air pollution, the number of deaths due to pollution shows that the situation is catastrophic. Arvind said, "No government policy can solve the problem without popular participation, but we are calling people to take small steps, such as using public transport rather than private vehicles to dramatically reduce the problem."

Gangandeep Walia D 'India in Gurgaon said that the survey was conducted jointly by Lancet, Global Alliance on Health and Pollution and Mount Sinai School of Medicine in the United States. More than 100 independent researchers have studied government data to estimate the number of deaths due to pollution.