Policies in favour of reducing air pollution will help in monetary benefits. TERI, in its latest research on Delhi air pollution, has revealed that estimates of economic benefits in terms of health from air pollution reduction (to safer limit 100 micro gram per cubic) for a typical household amount is Rs 33,978.12 and for the entire population of Delhi it is Rs 52.4 billion.

In Delhi, a typical household can save about 2.54 per cent per year of their annual income from reduction in pollution exposure to safe levels. In discussions, various facts pertaining to different exposures, particularly on children, instance - hovering of vehicles run of fuel containing lead, high tension wires and their impact on mental ability were discussed.

On the eve of World Environment Day, TERI School of Advanced Studies (TERI SAS) organised a panel discussion in which Atul Bagai , Head of the United Nations (UN) environment, India shared sound policies, monitoring and effective implementation , forms the bulwark of any environmental action.

Valentin Foltescu, Senior Programme and Science Officer, Climate & Clean Air Coalition and UN Environment, India in his opening address reiterated the fact that air pollution is a global urgency impacting all especially, unborn babies, children and women. "Air pollution is now everyone's concern and each one is a stakeholder. The economic costs involved are tremendous. Tackling air pollution requires concerted and focused actions by making simple yet global, collective and sustainable choices," Foltescu added.

The panel focused on impact of air pollution on children's mental ability. Quoting the figure of recent research on air pollution stated : 92 per cent of the people worldwide do not breathe clean air and out of seven million people who die annually due to air pollution.

Surprisingly, four million of them happen to live in the Asia - Pacific region.

It is crucial to understand the proximity effect on human beings and children particularly who are living in the vicinity of High Voltage Transmission Lines.  Notably, the energy losses during the transmission cause indirect carbon emissions and air pollution in power generation plants.

"A fear of the adverse health effects of electromagnetic fields, annoyance and noise is emerging now, particularly in children and more specifically on their brain," said one of member. 

Incidentally, a recent report released by Greenpeace and AirVisual reveals that 22 of world's 30 most polluted cities are in India with Delhi being the most polluted capital in the world.

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