Compromising childhood: Greenpeace monitoring of air quality reveals children at risk even when indoors

“Closing down schools, limiting physical activities, reducing exertion; in effect, air pollution is changing what it means to be a child today. While the closing down of schools or restricting physical outdoor activities is an important precautionary measure, it is vital to recognise that children all across our country – as well as other vulnerable groups of people like the elderly, the unwell, and pregnant women – are at risk from air pollution both indoors and outdoors, and that the government needs to do much more to head off this public health crisis,” said Sunil Dahiya, Campaigner, Greenpeace India, “The availability of reliable, real time data via the National Air Quality Index is a critical first step, and must be followed by clear health advisories and response protocols. The alarmingly high levels of pollution in Delhi would suggest the need to take urgent action such as shutting down schools. While restricting outdoor activities would be a good first step, this practice must be expanded to include other advice and precautionary measures by the government, as well as expanding it across the country via an enhanced National Air Quality Index (NAQI) platform.”

Concerns about air pollution are not restricted to Delhi alone, as Greenpeace supporters from all across the country have shown by joining the Clean Air Nation campaign and using the mobile app designed by Greenpeace. There is an urgent need to expand the existing National Air Quality Index to other cities and connect daily readings with real time health advisories. “Various state governments are moving ahead on this but this does need to be stepped up across all states. Without adequate data, preventive and corrective actions are impossible, so real time information on air quality is key to take action to protect public health,” concluded Dahiya. 

Notes to Editors:

The Air Pollution monitoring conducted by Greenpeace combined with the air quality data from Delhi Pollution Control Committee and Central Pollution Control Board shows consistently high pollution levels inside school classrooms.