Air Pollution & Health in Rapidly Developing Countries Edited by
Gordon McGranahan and Frank Murray Earthscan Publications Ltd,
London 2003 19.95 Do we need yet another book on the health
impacts of air pollution when every year more and more studies
are published in scientific journals all over the world
recording health impacts? Though considerable knowledge has been
gained in recent years about the impact of air pollution on
health, much of this is not easily accessible. In the preface to
Air Pollution & Health in Rapidly Developing Countries, Roger
Kasperson, executive director of the Stockholm Environment
Institute (sei) claims that "This book aims to make some of this
knowledge accessible to a wider audience". And that is indeed
its strong point. It is a cogent compilation of crucial
information by internationally renowned experts. The Indian
experience shows that when urged to take mitigation measures,
the government or industry begin to take evasive action.
Confusion and misinformation then take over