Automobiles contribute significantly to the air pollution problem in urban areas. Their emissions account for approximately 60% of the total pollution in developed countries and about 80% in the developing countries.

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To study the effects of air pollution on the eyes of persons staying in the metropolis of New Delhi.

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The authors conducted a cross-sectional study among residents of Delhi to determine the role of ambient air pollution in chronic respiratory morbidity in Delhi. The authors selected a random, stratified sample (N = 4,171) of permanent residents who were 18+ y of age and who lived near 1 of the 9 permanent air quality monitoring stations in the city.

The prevalence of respiratory problems and the ventilatory functions in subjects belonging to three sample areas with different levels of pollution was studied to ascertain if there is any association between air pollutant levels and abnormal ventilatory functions.

Due to decades of neglect and indifference, air quality in Indian cities has worsened rapidly, triggering a serious public health crisis. Central and state governments are still at a loss in dealing with the problem and except Delhi, no city is taking effective steps to control pollution. Even in Delhi, the drive to deal with pollution is not coming from the government but the Supreme Court. Recently, high courts in Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh have clamped down on the polluting three-wheelers by either banning them or pushing them to run on cleaner fuels.

India is facing a serious double burden of disease. Most of the old infectious diseases like malaria, filariasis and kala-azar have not yet disappeared; indeed they are bouncing back. At the same time, other chronic non-communicable diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disorders are becoming more dominant.

It is dangerous to breathe in most Indian cities, and even though the government accepts this, precious little is being done about it.