Hyderabad (Telangana):A recent study has confirmed that India, which is noted for the dubious distinction of becoming the world capital for pollution-related deaths, will continue to retain its position in the near future.
Comprising 400 institutions of 40 nations, Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP), focuses on health and pollution, has found in its study across the world that 15 per cent of deaths occurred in 2017 were related to pollution.
Surprisingly, the study summed up that India and China top in such pollution-related deaths.
A total of 83 lakhs of sudden deaths occurred in several states most of them registered in the account of India and 18 lakhs in China.
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Other nations follow the line is Nigeria 2.79 lakhs, Indonesia 2.32 lakhs and Pakistan 2.23 lakhs.
Even in the US, such deaths are evident as they registered at about 2 lakhs as it explains the intensity of pollution spread.
GAHP report confirms that these 10 nations account for two-thirds of pollution-related deaths occur are including Bangladesh, Russia, Ethiopia, and Brazil. Such sudden or untimely deaths are accounted for 34 lakhs (40 per cent) due to vehicles and industrial pollution.
If individually categorized, sudden deaths registered more in China with 12.42 lakhs and India with 12.40 lakhs.
Keeping the problem in view, stringent measures against industries and institutions causing pollution helped China reduce pollution-related deaths in the last 10 years.
However, in India, the situation is reversed as 23 per cent of sudden deaths increased at the same time. It confirms poor steps to keep a tab on pollution.
In every eight deaths, one is due to air pollution and a decline in citizens' life span by 1.7 years was due to the inhaling of poisonous air.
This was reported last year by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) which is a cause for concern.
Interestingly, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar has denied and surprised many by stating that no Indian study has made such a revelation of cut in life span due to air pollution.
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Perhaps, the minister might not be aware that CSE disclosed in its report two years ago that 30 per cent of the sudden deaths are caused by air pollution.
A recent international study also revealed that lakhs of families in India are grieving at deaths caused due to increase in air pollution.