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Air pollution kills 80 daily in Indian capital: official

Xinhua, July 27, 2015 Adjust font size:

An Indian government minister said Friday that air pollution is killing around 80 people in capital New Delhi every day.

Indian Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said in a report to parliament that polluted air, particularly the respirable particulate matter, is one of the several factors responsible for morbidity and premature deaths in the city.

"An international study released recently has claimed that foul air is killing up to 80 people a day in Delhi. The numbers of premature deaths given in the study are based on the constructive estimates and extrapolations of data," the minister said.

The study, entitled "Epidemiological Study on Effects of Air Pollution on Human Health in Delhi" was made during the 2002-2005 period and another study "Study on Ambient Air Quality, Respiratory Symptoms and Lung Function of Children in Delhi" was carried out during the 2003-2005 period.

"The studies indicate that several pulmonary and systemic immunity and damage to chromosomes and DNA and other health impairments are associated with cumulative exposure to high level of particulate pollution that increases the risk of various diseases including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases," Javadekar said.