World Environment Day: 9 Out Of 10 People Are Exposed To Alarming Levels Of Air Pollution, Say Medical Experts

New Delhi: In a bid to raise awareness about major environmental issues ranging from pollution to climate change and sustainable food production to protection of wildlife, World Environment Day is observed worldwide on June 5 every year. This year, the day is being observed on the theme ‘Beat air pollution’. Medical experts from the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Delhi Medical Association (DMA) and Apollo Hospitals on Tuesday called for action to reduce air pollution. Dr Anil Goyal, Convenor, World Environment Day, Indian Medical Association said,

Understanding the different types of pollutions and how hazardous it is to our health and environment will help us to take steps towards improving the air quality around us. Often we can’t even see it, but air pollution is around us everywhere. We can’t stop breathing, but we certainly can take small initiatives at our end to improve the air quality.

Also Read: ‘Planet Nahi Toh Future Nahi’: Children Raise Awareness This World Environment Day

Nine out of ten people are exposed to alarming levels of air pollution, the experts noted, while insisting on individual efforts to combat the global crisis.

Dr. K Hariprasad, President, Apollo Hospitals Division said,

With increasing urbanization and industrialization, air pollution has become the third-highest cause of death among all health risks. It is high time, that we as responsible citizens come together to resolve this issue and make planet earth a greener, healthier and happier place to live.

The experts urged people to use public transport and consider fuel efficient and alternative fuel vehicles for travelling.

Also Read: On World Environment Day, Bollywood Says ‘Hawa Aane De’, Asks Fans To Help Curb Air Pollution

NDTV – Dettol Banega Swachh India campaign lends support to the Government of India’s Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). Helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan, the campaign aims to spread awareness about hygiene and sanitation, the importance of building toilets and making India open defecation free (ODF) by October 2019, a target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when he launched Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in 2014. Over the years, the campaign has widened its scope to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and menstrual hygiene. The campaign has also focused extensively on marine pollution, clean Ganga Project and rejuvenation of Yamuna, two of India’s major river bodies.