Air quality and health

Key facts

• Air pollution is a major environmental risk to health and is estimated to cause approximately 2 million premature deaths worldwide per year.
• Exposure to air pollutants is largely beyond the control of individuals and requires action by public authorities at the national, regional and even international levels.
• The WHO Air quality guidelines represent the most widely agreed and up-to-date assessment of health effects of air pollution, recommending targets for air quality at which the health risks are significantly reduced.
• By reducing particulate matter (PM₁₀) pollution from 70 to 20 micrograms per cubic metre, we can cut air quality related deaths by around 15%.
• By reducing air pollution levels, we can help countries reduce the global burden of disease from respiratory infections, heart disease, and lung cancer.
• The WHO guidelines provide interim targets for countries that still have very high levels of air pollution to encourage the gradual cutting down of emissions. These interim targets are: a maximum of three days a year with up to 150 micrograms of PM₁₀ per cubic metre (for short term peaks of air pollution), and 70 micrograms per cubic metre for long term exposures to PM₁₀.
• More than half of the burden from air pollution on human health is borne by people in developing countries. In many cities, the average annual levels of PM₁₀ (the main source of which is the burning of fossil fuels) exceed 70 micrograms per cubic metre. The guidelines say that, to prevent ill health, those levels should be lower than 20 micrograms per cubic metre.

Source: World Health Organization Media Centre, Fact Sheets

World Veterinary Day Special

Contribution of veterinarians in public health activities

Veterinarian’s role in public health is well known. For instance, the work of the French veterinarian, Gaston Ramon, in the development of diphtheria toxoid has drastically reduced the incidence of diphtheria in children. The fundamental studies of Daniel E. Salmon and Theobald Smith on porcine salmonellosis resulted in the discovery of the first killed vaccine which formed the basis of the methods employed on a gigantic scale to protect human beings against cholera, plague and typhoid fever. The establishment and practice of modern principles of food hygiene for dairy and meat industries is another significant activity through which the veterinarians have been actively contributing to public health worldwide. These principles are applicable to several other food industries as well. In modern times, the veterinarians are making remarkable contribution in public health programmes worldwide.

Like in the developed nations, in India too, veterinary graduates and postgraduates are quite knowledgeable regarding a number of public health problems, their causes, transmission pathways, and the measures for their prevention and control. They are imparted specialized training and are taught several courses in the field of Veterinary Public Health at undergraduate and postgraduate levels under the Minimum Standards of Veterinary Education Regulations prescribed by the Veterinary Council of India. The veterinarians have a detailed practical knowledge of zoonotic disease control and hygienic production, inspection and quality assurance of animal products like milk, meat, eggs, fish etc., environmental health etc.

Sadly, the potential of extensive veterinary workforce in public health programmes remains largely unutilized in India despite their resourcefulness and close proximity to rural folks. They can make significant contribution in the national food safety, food security and international trade through their involvement in food inspection and quality control programmes. The veterinarians can also collaborate with public health specialists (medical professionals) quite meaningfully and effectively in the areas like epidemiology, control and prevention of zoonotic diseases and environmental health problems.

It is high time to use the services of veterinary professionals to combat the public health problems more fiercely.

Inputs:

Dr. Ashwani Kumar

Professor & Former HOD, Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary Sciences, Hisar

Former Professor, Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia