Air pollution is one of the serious environmental concerns of the urban cities where majority of the population is
exposed to poor air quality. The health related problems such as respiratory diseases, risk of developing carcinogenic
diseases and other serious ailments etc. due to poor air quality are known and well documented.
Besides the health affects, air pollution also contributes to tremendous economic losses, especially in the sense of
financial resources that are required for giving medical assistance to the affected people. The poor are often the
most affected segment of the population as they do not have adequate measures to protect themselves from air
pollution. The vehicular emissions have damaging effects on both human health and ecology.
There is a wide range of adverse health/environmental effects of the pollutants released from vehicles. The effects
may be direct as well as in-direct covering right from reduced visibility to cancers and death in some cases of
acute exposure of pollutants specially carbon monoxide. These pollutants are believed to directly affect the
respiratory and cardiovascular systems. In particular, high levels of Sulphur dioxide and Suspended Particulate
Matter are associated with increased mortality, morbidity and impaired pulmonary function.
Source: CPCB NewItem_157_VPC_REPORT