New Delhi, Oct 31: It may seem incredible, but a report in a reputed science journal stated that a whopping 1.24 lakh deaths in India in 2015 have been related to indoor air pollution. According to a report published in Lancet Tuesday, compared to deaths attributed to pollution from coal plants and other industries, this count was higher.
While pollution emanating from coal power plants accounted for 80,368 fatalities, as many as 95,800 people died due to pollution by other industries. In fact, in all these cases, there is an emission of fine pollutants measuring about 2.5 microns or even less.
The Lancet report is the journal’s endeavour to alert people of the impact on climate change on their lives ahead of the next round of global climate negotiations scheduled to be held at Bonn in Germany from November 6. Aside from highlighting the threats of climate change, the report discusses a wide range of issues including temperature-related ailments and deteriorating air quality, in addition to frequent climactic disasters as well as changes in disease patterns.
The authors of the report Nick Watts, Markus Amann, Sonja Ayeb-Karlsson, Kristine Belesova, Timothy Bouley, Maxwell Boykoff, and others emphasise on the need for pertinent climate policies that are effective in curbing air pollution, keeping in view that several sources of greenhouse gas emissions – like the thermal power plants – also have a negative impact on the air quality.
“Increased access to clean fuels and clean energy technologies will have the dual benefit of reducing indoor air pollution exposure and cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions through the displacement of fossil fuels,” the report stated.
According to the report, indoor air pollution is responsible for over 4.3 million preventable deaths related to lung cancer, pneumonia, stroke, heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) every year. In India, especially rural India, indoor pollution is attributed to the use of polluting fuel sources for, instance wood, animal dung and charcoal.
As a result, practically 800 million people – more often than not women – are exposed to excessively high levels of pollutants generated through domestic practices.
Addressing an august gathering at a recent conference on environment, Radha Muthiah, Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves CEO, observed, “By working to deliver universal access to cleaner cooking fuels, India is taking a significant step towards addressing air quality issues and improving health, while continuing to serve as an example… that cooking no longer kills.”
Meanwhile, the World Meteorological Organisation’s Greenhouse Gas Bulletin has asserted that last year carbon dioxide (CO2) – the main greenhouse gas – reached its highest-ever levels in 8,000 centuries. (PTI)