The advisory urges the citizens, especially the high-risk groups including pregnant women, young children, and the elderly, to minimise outdoor activities as much as possible. It also emphasised the need to avoid burning wood, leaves, crop residues, or waste in open areas and advised people to use wet mopping instead of sweeping or vacuuming to prevent dust from spreading indoors. Additionally, the advisory reiterated the ban on burning firecrackers.
On days when pollution levels reach the poor to severe-plus category, individuals with chronic cardio-pulmonary conditions have been cautioned against engaging in strenuous outdoor activity.
Prepared under the National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH), the advisory directs all states to set up chest clinics at Community Health Centres, Sub-District Hospitals, District Hospitals, and Medical Colleges in urban areas.
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As per the news reports by TNIE, “During the peak air pollution months (usually from September to March), these clinics are expected to function for at least two hours daily,” the advisory stated. It also called on states to intensify health preparedness, strengthen surveillance of pollution-related illnesses, and initiate coordinated action plans to mitigate the public health impacts of air pollution. A staff nurse at each clinic will screen patients for risk factors, register high-risk individuals, and share details with respective health blocks for community-level follow-up through ASHA, ANM, and Community Health Officers.
Healthcare personnel at these clinics will diagnose, treat, and manage respiratory and cardiac conditions linked to air pollution exposure. States have also been directed to conduct capacity-building programmes for paramedics, community health workers, and other staff to ensure effective management of air pollution-related illnesses.
The advisory directs states to ensure the availability of essential medicines, oxygen supplies, nebulisers, and ventilators, while conducting training and capacity-building for paramedics and frontline health workers to handle pollution-related illnesses. States are also required to set up and enhance sentinel surveillance systems to track illnesses linked to air pollution. Hospitals nationwide are expected to report daily cases, analyze data, and share findings with state and central authorities for timely intervention.
According to the ministry, the revised advisory seeks to tackle health risks associated with prolonged exposure to polluted air in affected regions.
To reduce dust exposure at construction and demolition sites, states have been directed to enforce strict dust-control measures, including water sprinkling, material covering, and providing masks and protective gear to workers. Regular health check-ups and safety training for construction workers have also been made mandatory.
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The advisory highlighted that both short- and long-term exposure to even lower levels of air pollution can be harmful to health. Long-term exposure can lead to chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer, and premature death, while short-term high-level exposure can cause acute health reactions affecting multiple organs, reports TNIE. Common symptoms include eye, nose, and throat irritation, breathing difficulty, wheezing, chest pain, dizziness, and fatigue. Vulnerable groups may suffer more severe effects, such as asthma exacerbation, bronchitis, and worsening of chronic illnesses like COPD, heart disease, and stroke.
In a letter to chief secretaries, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said that during winter, air quality in several regions often dips to poor or severe levels, posing a major health challenge. "Together, we can work towards a healthier, cleaner, and more resilient ecosystem,” she wrote, urging states to implement the advisory swiftly and strengthen the country’s healthcare readiness against pollution-linked health risks, reports the Business Standard.
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