National Workshop on Air Quality & Health Commences at PGI

By Tricitynews Reporter

Chandigarh 26^th October:- A 4-day training programme on the ‘Air Quality and Health’ commenced today 26th October at School of Public Health, PGI. The training programme is organized by School of Public Health, PGI in collaboration with Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, New Delhi.

This programme is specially designed for faculty and scientists, environment and public health researchers, medical professional and residents to build their capacity in the area of environment health to improve the public health in the country.

Dr. Ravindra Khaiwal, organizing secretary of the event highlighted that recently World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that around 92% of the population live in places where air pollution exceeds the air quality standards, which can contribute to lung cancer, heart disease, and strokes. Hence, he stressed that there is a need to reduce the exposure to harmful air pollutants especially in urban centers.

Dr Suman Mor, Coordinator, Centre for Public Health, Panjab University, Invited Speaker, mentioned that air pollution has grown across India alarmingly and globally over 7 million people premature deaths could be linked to air pollution. Hence, air pollution is becoming a major environmental risk to human health.

Dr. Ravindra Khaiwal, also mentioned that tomorrow with the support of Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, a air quality campaign will be stared using a Mobile Air Quality Van, which continuously monitor the air pollutants. Prof. Arun Kumar, Vice Chancellor, Panjab University and Dr. Gufran Beig , Scientist-G, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Ministry of Earth Sciences will inaugurate this first of its kind continuous air quality campaign using state of the art technology to monitor air pollutants.