Minister of State for Health, Prataprao Jadhav, informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday that there is no conclusive data available to directly link deaths or diseases exclusively to air pollution in India.
In response to a question raised in the House, Jadhav acknowledged that air pollution is a significant trigger for respiratory diseases and related health complications. However, he emphasised that the health effects of air pollution are often the result of multiple interacting factors. These include an individual’s food habits, occupational conditions, socioeconomic status, medical history, immunity, and heredity.
Jadhav further clarified that while air pollution can exacerbate pre-existing health conditions, it cannot be singled out as the sole cause of death or disease in any conclusive manner. He stated, “The health effects of air pollution are a synergistic manifestation of various factors.”
This statement comes amid growing concerns over air quality in several Indian cities, which have seen a surge in respiratory illnesses linked to high levels of air pollution. Experts have long called for more rigorous studies to better understand the long-term health impacts of poor air quality in urban areas.
