Health

Four projects under this theme evaluate the impact of poor environmental conditions on peoples health and associated economic damages. Environmental, socio-economic and health data from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh and Lucknow are collected. They try to establish the environment-health and economic interlinkages in India. The themes cover issues ranging from environmental exposure to policyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in economically underprivileged population of urban areas in UP, comparative health risk assessment for environmental concerns in North Chennai and environmental costs of industrialization in Gujarat. A multi-institutional project in three states of India viz. Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan that include a survey of approximately 10000 households in rural areas to estimate the economics of health damages due to burning of fuelwood, agricultural residue and animal dung – collectively termed biofuels is also funded.