Severe health warnings in Delhi

Gastrointestinal diseases, asthma, bronchitis and vitamin D deficiency are all being linked with severe weather conditions and pollution in Delhi, according to the Times of India.

The North Indian city is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16.7 million inhabitants in the territory at the 2011 Census. The cramped environment and the excessive air pollution has made life difficult in the city, with 7,525 deaths in 2010 from complications from respiratory diseases, a 41 per cent increase from 2009.

A recent study revealed 11.9 per cent of Delhi's schoolchildren in the age group of 5-16 years suffer from bronchial asthma, and a further 30 per cent of schoolchildren were found to be affected by wheezing. Repertory conditions and extreme weather have forced many children to stay indoors, which put them at risk of Vitamin D deficiency.

PM10s often touch 300 per cubic metres in the city, which is well above the recommended limit set by the World Health Organisation of 20 per cubic metres.

Many commentators believe the solution to the pollution problem is CNG buses that help reduce carbon emissions, as well as providing a means to the escalating road traffic problem.

Posted by Joseph Hutton