Summary: | As the planet struggles to come to terms with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a respite of sorts, for Mother Nature. . With clearer skies, clean water bodies, it looked like the environment was healing.However, a closer look at the statistics show that the positive effects of the pandemic on the environment are only short-term and it will take a long time to undo the damage.On World Environment Day 2020, we have prepared a list of alarming facts about the environment and pollution which are proof that if we don’t act now, things might never be the same again. India is home to 22 of the world's 50 most polluted cities. The outdoor pollutants cause damage to the lungs, the respiratory system and can also lead to death.Around 627,000 premature deaths in India can be attributed to ambient PM 2.5 exposure in air outdoors. However, outdoor pollution is not the only menace that we are dealing with. When household or indoor pollution is added, the figure rises to a whopping 1.6 million.The burden of these 1.6 million deaths, however, is borne disproportionately by the poor population in rural areas who rely on solid fuels for cooking. This also poses a major challenge when it comes to putting an end to air pollution. Delhi is officially the most polluted city in the world with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 527, says weather forecasting agency Skymet. However, one of the most alarming facts about Delhi’s air is that it leads to a staggering 6 million asthma attacks every year.The particulate matter or PM levels, which is designated as 2.5 or 10, are high in Delhi. PM 2.5 levels are linked to between 7,350 and 16,200 premature deaths in the city alone.Apart from 6 million asthma attacks every year, the population in the National Capital is also prone to several other respiratory diseases. Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, most of the global population was locked indoors for a considerable period of time. As the vehicular pollution decreased,... |