Ambient air pollution and public health: a call to action
The World Health Organization notes that India has a high environmental disease burden, with the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) for 2010 ranking ambient air pollution (AAP) as the fifth largest killer in India. Sustained exposure to AAP has led to increased rates of respiratory ailments, acting as a catalyst for rising healthcare costs, and impacting the most vulnerable among us. This paper suggests that AAP needs to be addressed through a multi-sectoral approach that cuts across broader themes of development and public health.