Air quality measures in Delhi see residents' health improve

Air quality measures that have been put into place in Delhi, India, have boosted the health of its residents.

Andrew Foster, professor of economics and community health and an associate at Brown's Population Studies and Training Center, co-authored research, which revealed that programmes to lower pollution levels in the city have had a positive effect for those living there.

Publishing his work in the online issue of Atmosphere Environment recently, the report found that the respiratory health of residents had improved over the last few years.

However, it also showed that low-income households suffered adverse health effects, demonstrating the division between classes in the city as the richest households barely spent any time outside compared with those in poorer homes.

Despite efforts that have been made to improve air monitoring results in the area, New Delhi was found to have high levels of pollution in data released in the Independent last week.

AirNow, CITEAIR and the American Embassy in Beijing showed that air in the city was 'unhealthy for sensitive groups'.

Posted by Joseph Hutton