New Delhi, Sep 30 (NationPress) The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT-Delhi), in collaboration with Climate Trends, unveiled the Health Benefit Assessment Dashboard on Tuesday. This groundbreaking tool revealed that meeting the 2024 National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) goal of a 30 percent reduction in PM2.5 levels could lower the national disease prevalence rate from 4.87 percent to 3.09 percent.

The dashboard launch occurred during a consultation workshop aimed at initiating discussions on air quality and public health, coinciding with the conclusion of the monsoon season.

This innovative dashboard, a unique tool, utilizes data from the fifth National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) across 641 Indian districts. It highlights the correlation between PM2.5 air pollution and various diseases, including hypertension, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), anaemia, and diabetes among women aged 15 to 49. Additionally, it addresses anaemia, low birth weight, and lower respiratory infections in children under five.

Virinder Sharma, a Technical Member of the Commission for Air Quality Management in Delhi-NCR (CAQM), commented, "The statistics are alarming yet abstract. They don’t resonate with individuals on a personal level. The consequences seem distant, akin to climate change—gradual and future-oriented, particularly concerning health issues. The immediate impacts are often overlooked."

He added, "There’s no direct 'death certificate' for air pollution. The losses are evident—whether in Delhi-NCR hospitals, workplaces, or through shortened lifespans—but the crisis remains silent and elusive. It's easy to underestimate unless it's linked to people's everyday experiences."

The health benefits of improved air quality are notably significant in densely populated states in the northern and eastern regions of India.

Currently, the prevalence of diabetes among reproductive-age women stands at 1.7 percent, which could decrease to 1.4 percent if the PM2.5 reduction goals are achieved.

Moreover, the reduction in cases of lower respiratory infections, low birth weight, and anaemia is most pronounced in children from regions with high baseline air pollution levels, especially the Indo-Gangetic Plain and eastern states.

The clean air scenario was modeled based on a 30 percent reduction in PM2.5 concentrations in line with NCAP's 2024 target, intending to provide policymakers and researchers with tangible health impact data as the critical months of severe air pollution approach.

Aarti Khosla, Director of Climate Trends, stated, "The primary focus of air quality mitigation should be public health. Over the past decade, as air quality has become a more scientific issue intertwined with climate change, it has somewhat drifted away from its crucial social dimension as a public health concern."

"Reestablishing this connection is vital. That’s why all epidemiological studies and research conducted in India are essential for clarifying the links between air quality and public health."

The Health Dashboard was developed using Census 2011 district boundaries, correlating district-level morbidity prevalence rates with PM2.5 values derived from IIT Delhi's Satellite-Based Application For Air Quality Monitoring and Management at National Scale (SAANS) satellite data.

Khosla noted, "As we enter the winter season, there will be increased focus on air pollution. I hope this moment encourages us to move beyond temporary solutions and engage in meaningful discussions about the real opportunities at hand."

Sagnik Dey, Chair Professor in Policy Studies at the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences at IIT Delhi, remarked, "We realized that while we are conducting research, the findings are not often communicated effectively to policymakers or the public."

"That’s why we collaborated with Climate Trends to craft a strong health-focused narrative. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that the message reaches the public, fostering a more inclusive approach to solving the issue."