Air Pollution and Health in India Data Needs Going Forward Bhargav - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Air Pollution and Health in India

Data Needs Going Forward

SAMSI-SAVI Workshop 30th May 2016 Bhargav Krishna Research Fellow & Executive Aide to the President

Identifying the Needs

1.Expanding the evidence base on health impacts 2.Identifying and implementing evidence-informed policy 3.Monitoring progress on international commitments

To Expand the Evidence Base

• First of its kind report by a Ministry of

Health

• Focused on reduction of total exposure
• Collated the best available evidence in

the Indian context on exposure and health impacts

To Expand the Evidence Base

• Most studies deficient in exposure or outcome assessment
• Most studies based on coarse PM (RSPM, SPM, PM10)
• Little to no examination of:
• Cardio-metabolic impacts
• Prenatal/early childhood exposures
• Neurocognitive effects
• Most studies either time-series or cross-sectional
• Long-term exposure?
• Microenvironment profiles
• E.g. in-transit/in-vehicle exposures

To Develop Evidence-Informed Policy

• Air pollution finally on the radar
• Driven by judicial action
• Political will lacking
• Developmental trade-offs?
• Incoherent response
• E.g. Odd-Even
• New TPP Standards
• Focus still very Delhi-centric
• Tier 2 & 3 cities completely ignored

To Develop Evidence-Informed Policy

• Compelling evidence needed on sector-specific impacts
• More data needed on contribution of localized sources to exposure (e.g. waste burning, small

industries)

• Cost-Benefit analysis of major policy actions
• Shift to EURO VI fuel standards
• Ending diesel subsidies
• Evidence base outside Delhi and the metros
• Establishing sentinel sites for surveillance
• Critically polluted areas – tools to monitor exposures and evaluate health impacts

To Track Progress on International Commitments

• New commitments made under the Sustainable Development Goal Framework
• Questions around data availability, quality and reporting timelines
• Target 3.9 By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from

hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

• Indicator: Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution
• Target 11.6 By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities,

including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management

• Indicator: Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (i.e. PM2.5 and PM10) in

cities (population weighted)

•  Expanded continuous monitoring network; low cost monitoring??