Overview
- Modelling a uniform 30% reduction in PM2.5, the tool projects nationwide disease prevalence falling from 4.87% to 3.09%.
- Estimated declines include heart disease in women by 3–10%, diabetes by 8–25%, hypertension by 2–8%, and COPD by 3–12%.
- Projected benefits concentrate in the Indo-Gangetic Plain and other northern and eastern states, with marked improvements in child anaemia, low birth weight, and respiratory infections.
- Built across 641 districts using 2011 boundaries, the dashboard links NFHS-5 health indicators with PM2.5 from IIT-Delhi’s SAANS satellite data and applies NCAP’s 30% cut scenario.
- Experts urged a national environmental health commission or high-level task force and flagged the urgency as winter smog season approaches, with CAQM noting pollution harms remain largely invisible.