Air pollution may be posing a rising health risk in India as the number of cases of acute respiratory infection have risen by 5 million since 2012 even though deaths have declined in the same period, government data released on Tuesday evening show.
Cases of ARI have been rising even before 2012 though deaths began to decline since that year. The government report notes the strong association between air pollution and respiratory diseases. While ARI cases rose by 5 million, deaths due to the condition reduced marginally. As many as 2,932 people died due to acute respiratory infection in 2014, as against 3513 in the previous year, according to the 'National Health Profile 2015' released by health minister J P Nadda.
The report's profile stated that air pollution leads to a wide array of health effects, of which ARI "has accounted for the maximum number of cases" while noting that "over the years, acute respiratory infections cases are showing an increasing trend".
The increasing trend in number of ARI cases is clearly discernible since 2011. The National Health Profile 2015, published by Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI), covers demographic, socio-economic, health status and health finance indicators, along with comprehensive information on health infrastructure and human resources in health.
Cases of ARI have been rising even before 2012 though deaths began to decline since that year. The government report notes the strong association between air pollution and respiratory diseases. While ARI cases rose by 5 million, deaths due to the condition reduced marginally. As many as 2,932 people died due to acute respiratory infection in 2014, as against 3513 in the previous year, according to the 'National Health Profile 2015' released by health minister J P Nadda.
The report's profile stated that air pollution leads to a wide array of health effects, of which ARI "has accounted for the maximum number of cases" while noting that "over the years, acute respiratory infections cases are showing an increasing trend".
The increasing trend in number of ARI cases is clearly discernible since 2011. The National Health Profile 2015, published by Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI), covers demographic, socio-economic, health status and health finance indicators, along with comprehensive information on health infrastructure and human resources in health.
