ICEH Papers

AN OVERVIEW OF AIR POLLUTION AND RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES IN SRI LANKA

Senarath, Mrs. Chandralatha “An Overview Of Air Pollution And Respiratory Illnesses In Sri Lanka” in Martin J. Bunch, V. Madha Suresh and T. Vasantha Kumaran, eds., Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Environment and Health, Chennai, India, 15-17 December, 2003. Chennai: Department of Geography, University of Madras and Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University. Pages 489 – 501.

Abstract:

The development of science and technology leads to environmental problems in both developed and developing countries. Air pollution is one of these problems. In Sri Lanka the impact of air pollutants on human health has become a major issue. Therefore it is important to investigate the effects and the controlling measures of air pollution.

Through this overview I will illustrate the major air pollutants and their sources, and then show the health effects of air pollution and do an investigation on the air pollution scenario in Sri Lanka, to know the current situation of respiratory illnesses related to air pollution. Then to find the control measures taken by the regulatory authorities to abate air pollution.
By visiting the Central Environmental Authority, Urban Development

Authority and Public Health Bureau, I was able to collect relevant facts through discussions and interviews with the people who concern about Air pollution and using some reference materials. By observation of the places where air pollutants can be seen, I was able to find some ways that air pollutants are released

· There have been famous air pollution episodes in the past.
· Air pollutants can be classified as suspended particulate matter, gasses and vaporous.
· In Sri Lanka automobile exhaust is one of the major causes of air pollution.
· In Sri Lanka since 1995, diseases of the respiratory system ranked as the second leading cause of hospitalization.
· Respiratory diseases ranked within the first five leading causes of death in all age groups except 15 – 24 and 25 – 49 years.
· The figures of hospitalization and hospital deaths from 1995 – 2001 show that ASTHMA has become a major respiratory disease.

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