In a bid to curb the toxic air pollution in the city, researchers from various Indian and US universities discussed the health effects of air pollution. Team Viva reports
With the country’s capital getting choked by the worst smog in 17 years, the anguish of the Delhiites is palpable. As the level of particulate matter in the air exceeds 14-16 times than the safe limit, many environmental and health organisations have taken the fore to aware people regarding the ways to curb the hazardous air pollution. In the series of efforts, the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum and US government’s National Institute of Environment and Health Sciences organised a workshop to explore research on air quality and health issues.
Addressing the gathering at the workshop, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the problem of pollution in India has been endemic, it is only when the national capital has been affected that the problem has got media attention. The parliamentarian also added, “Nobody talks about pollution in Dombivli, Chembur and Raigad areas of Maharashtra. These are even worse than Delhi.”
The Indian economist and politician also held the burning of crop residue in the neighbouring states of Haryana and Punjab, responsible for the pollution. “We need not to put ban on the burning of crop residue. But we need to find enduring, eco-friendly solution to combat its adverse effects,” he said.
The workshop was meant to explore bilateral research opportunities to address air quality and health issues. Researchers from various Indian and US universities discussed the health effects of air pollution. Gwen Collman, the director of the NIEHS Division of Extramural Research and Training stressed on the need of research to be done on issues of pollution. When asked about the ill effects of the air pollution, Collman said, “Air pollution has an influence on multiple organs. It affects pregnant women and develops chances of asthma in the baby inside the womb. It has severe effect on children and aged people.” She also added, “The particulate matter 2.5 is a major reason for heart ailments among people.”
Collman also shared the major factors which highly contribute to the pollution. “Scientific and government agencies continue to squabble over who is a bigger pollutant. Where dust flying from construction sites and open spaces does contribute to pollutants in the air and needs to be addressed, there is no getting away from the fact that motorised vehicles are a major source of pollution. And you have more than eight million of them in Delhi,” she said.