UnfAIR Quality

Air quality in India is alarmingly bad; certain cities figure regularly in international media reports. According to World Bank data, more than 9 million premature deaths occur annually in India due to air pollution. Delhi’s AQI is worst than other cities, but there is a certain section that breathes even worse air: the marginalized low-income groups; the sanitation workers who bear a greater burden of exposure and health risks. The research identified three such groups: the informal wastepickers, the employed ‘Safai Karamcharis’, and security guards, and focused on their existing knowledge about air pollution. Their respiratory health was also examined along with the relationship between their health and occupation. 400 participants (100 from each occupational group and 100 from a control group) across 15 sites were surveyed, followed by pulmonary function tests (PFT) for data collection. The PFT and the survey results were statistically analyzed. It was seen that workers who keep the world’s most polluted city clean and safe are paying the price with their health. 86% of Safai Karamcharis, security guards & 75% of wastepickers in Delhi are severely impacted by air pollution.