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5 December 2020.
Introduction:
World’s 1st foul air death or death legally certified to have been caused by air pollution has been recorded in UK. According to WHO, air pollution contributes to 4.2 million deaths per year across the world. In addition to this, about 3.8 million deaths are due to household air pollutants. 91% of the global population live in areas with air quality that is non-compliant with the WHO guidelines.
What is the concern?
- In February 2013, nine-year-old Ella Adoo Kissi-Debrah lived 30 metres from the South Circular, a busy congested aerial road in Southeast London.
- In 2014, an inquest found that she died of acute respiratory failure.
- In 2019, the family of the girl was successful in filing an application to the High Court to reopen the inquest.
- The second inquest was opened recently.
- This will conclude whether air pollution caused or contributed to the death of the girl.
Impact of Air Pollution
- Air Pollution is considered as silent killer by the World Health Organization. More than 90% of the world children breathe toxic air every day.
Air Pollution in India.
- India has 21 out of 30 polluted cities.
- In India 51% of air pollution is caused by industries, 27% by vehicles, 17% by crop burning and 5% by fireworks.
- At least 140 million people in India breathe air that is ten times over the safe limit set by the WHO.
The following measures were adopted by the Government of India to control air pollution in India
- Air (Prevention and control of Pollution) Act in was passed by India in 1981 to regulate air pollution. However, the act failed to reduce the pollution due to poor enforcement of the rules. Following this National Air Quality Index was launched. In 2019, National Clean air Programme was launched.