Mumbai: In a startling revelation, a free lung health screening in Govandi located beside Asia’s largest dumping ground in Deonar found that one in five residents tested required urgent medical attention and 65% reported chronic cough or breathlessness. Residents participated in awareness sessions on the link between air pollution and illnesses such as TB, asthma, and cancer.
The camp, organised by the PinkTree Foundation, Waatavaran Foundation, and Govandi New Sangam Welfare Society (GNSW Mumbai), screened around 50 residents at the Kamala Raman Nagar Municipal Hospital and Health Centre.
The initiative introduced Vocal Biomarker Analysis Technology a quick, AI-powered, voice-based test capable of detecting possible respiratory conditions within minutes for the first time in India. The findings also revealed that 100% of participants face daily exposure to toxic smoke and chemical fumes from continuous waste burning at the Deonar dumping ground.
Community Voices Health Demands
Alongside testing, residents participated in awareness sessions on the link between air pollution and illnesses such as TB, asthma, and cancer. Informational pamphlets on air quality and waste management were distributed, and locals voiced their demands on an interactive “Wall of Demands” with messages like “We want oxygen, not smoke.”
Ira Toraskar, Founder of PinkTree Foundation, said: “Govandi’s people are breathing poison every day. This is not just an environmental issue, it’s a humanitarian crisis. Through these screenings, we are giving residents the tools to understand their lung health and take prior precautions to avoid extreme respiratory organ deterioration.”
Air Pollution’s Impact on Life Expectancy
Mohsinkhan Pathan, Senior Project Associate of Waatavaran, emphasized the systemic nature of the problem: “Air pollution is stealing years from people’s lives here. We cannot normalize communities living next to constant waste fires and chemical fumes. With each breath we can sense the pollutants in the air. It becomes very much important for Municipal Officials, Policy Makers and Civil Society Organisations to work together for the betterment of the people living here.”
Grassroots Leadership Highlights Lived Reality
Advocate Shaikh Faiyaz Alam, President of GNSW Mumbai, reflected the urgency from within the community: “We have been raising our voices for decades, but now our health data speaks louder than ever. This is our lived reality - children, elders, everyone breathing toxic air every single day. We need solutions, not sympathy.”
Plan for Monthly Lung Health Screenings
The three organizations have plans to launch a “Monthly Lung Health Screening” program in Govandi and surrounding areas. The initiative will focus on early detection, awareness building, and policy advocacy to push for stricter waste management, industrial regulation, and clean air measures in the region.
The Vocal Biomarker Test is a 1st time in India technology brought by the PinkTree Foundation.
The findings were deeply concerning:
1 in 5 residents tested were flagged for urgent medical attention.
65% of participants reported chronic cough or breathlessness.
100% confirmed daily exposure to toxic smoke and chemicals from ongoing waste burning.
