“Maut Ka Zehar Hai Fizaon Mein,
Ab Kahaan Ja Ke Saans Li Jaye . . . . . .”
– Rahat Indori
In the recent past, Delhi has been enveloped in a layer of Smog (a type of air pollution caused by tiny particles in the air. The word comes from a mixture of the words smoke & fog), recording a ‘Very Poor’ Air Quality Index (AQI) of 301.
The air quality in neighbouring Ghaziabad (320), Greater Noida (312) and Noida (310) in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana’s Alipur Khalsa (351) and Panipat (339) also turned “very poor”.
Air pollution has both acute and chronic effects on respiratory health, affecting a number of different systems and organs.
Air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, ozone, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter affect different parts of the respiratory tract via a variety of mechanisms resulting in respiratory symptoms.
Respiratory health effects range from minor upper respiratory irritation to chronic respiratory and heart disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections; air pollution can also aggravate pre-existing heart and lung disease. Short- and long-term exposures have been linked with premature mortality and reduced life expectancy.
Pollutants with the strongest evidence for adverse effects on respiratory health include particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide. Particulate matter is used as an indicator of air pollution and is usually divided into groups based on particle size.
Coarse particulate matter has an aerodynamic diameter of between 10 μm and 2.5 μm, and is referred to as PM10–2.5.6
Fine particulate matter has an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 μm, is referred to as PM2.5 and can penetrate deep into the lung.
How Air Pollution Contributes to Lung Disease
When we breathe in dirty air, we bring air pollutants deep into our lungs, so it’s no surprise that air pollution causes serious damage to the respiratory tract. Air pollution exposure can trigger new cases of asthma, exacerbate (worsen) a previously-existing respiratory illness, and provoke development or progression of chronic illnesses including lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and emphysema. Air pollutants also negatively and significantly harm lung development, creating an additional risk factor for developing lung diseases later in life.
Asthma – Over 20 million people in the U.S., including six million children now gasp for breath due to asthma. Asthma, a chronic disease of the lungs characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the airways, causes a sensation of tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing. If untreated, asthma episodes can be nearfatal or even fatal. Asthma is not currently curable, and damage that is done to lung tissue during asthma attacks may lead to permanent damage. Nearly 1.8 million emergency room visits were attributed to asthma in 2005. There are many triggers to asthma attacks, including dust, smoke, pollen, and volatile organic compounds. Common outdoor pollutant triggers include ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
The Asthma-Ozone Connection Ozone – One of the most widespread air pollutants in the US, is formed when volatile organic compounds react with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight. Ozone irritates the lungs at concentrations which are fairly common in urban settings, particularly in summer months. Increases in ozone are linked to asthma and other lung diseases. For those with severe asthma, symptoms increase even when ambient ozone levels fall under the thresholds set by the EPA. Elevated ozone levels also aggravate pre-existing heart problems, like angina.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) – Chronic bronchitis and emphysema Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is another condition characterized by narrowing of the airways, but these changes are permanent rather than reversible. COPD is caused by exposure to pollutants that produce inflammation, an immunological response. In larger airways, the inflammatory response is referred to as chronic bronchitis. In the tiny air cells at the end of the lung’s smallest passageways, it leads to destruction of tissue, or emphysema. Although current and ex-smokers account for most patients with COPD, exposure to air pollutants plays an important role in the development of COPD and the origin and development of acute exacerbations.
Lung Cancer – Lung cancer, the leading U.S. cancer killer in both men and women, is often (and accurately) associated with smoking tobacco. While that’s true, there are multiple other risk factors for developing lung cancer, including air pollution. Particulate matter and ozone in particular may affect mortality due to lung cancer.
Effects on Children
Children are Especially Vulnerable Children are particularly susceptible to the effects of air pollution. They breathe through their mouths, bypassing the filtering effects of the nasal passages and allowing pollutants to travel deeper into the lungs. They have a large lung surface area relative to their weight and inhale relatively more air, compared to adults. They also spend more time out of doors, particularly in the afternoons and during the summer months when ozone and other pollutant levels are at their highest. And, children may ignore early symptoms of air pollution effects, such as an asthma exacerbation, leading to attacks of increased severity. Combine those factors with the adverse impact of some pollutants on lung development and the immaturity of children’s enzymes and immune systems that detoxify pollutants, and you have a series of factors that contribute to children’s increased sensitivity to air pollutants.
Effects on Other systems
- Aggravated Cardiovascular illnesses
- Increased respiratory illnesses (Asthma, Bronchitis)
- Added stress on heart and lungs to provide more oxygen
Air Pollution and Reproductive Health
A recent study by Nature Sustainability has established a link between air pollution and ‘silent miscarriages’ in pregnant women and missed Abortion in the First Trimester
How Can You Stay Safe From Air Pollution?
With rising levels of air pollution in Delhi, it is imperative we follow an action plan to stay safe, while also doing our bit to not contribute to air pollution.
Few measures and steps you can take:
Wear Pollution Masks – An ideal pollution mask must have a carbon filter, an exhaust valve, and a filter higher than N95. While buying the mask, ensure it fits perfectly and limit outdoor activities. Here’s what you need to know about choosing the right pollution mask for yourself.
Use Air Purifiers – Air purifiers can filter the air and minimise the number of pollutants you breathe in. The better the quality of your air filter, the purer will be your final product.
Avoid Exercising Outdoors – High-intensity exercises require us to breathe in deeper the polluted air around us. In a situation like that of Delhi, avoid going out for early morning or late evening walks – and if you do, don’t forget to put on your pollution mask.
Reduce Indoor Air Pollution – Use energy efficiently, try not to dust your floors frequently during winters (dust from the floor rises up, adding to your respiratory discomfort), and segregate your waste. Follow the 3Rs of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle to do your bit to curb air pollution levels in Delhi.
Consult Your Doctor – Get yourself checked if you experience symptoms like:
- Difficulty breathing (especially if you have a respiratory illness)
- Increased heart rate (especially if you have a heart condition)
- Burning eyes
- Headaches and fatigue
Apart from the above mentioned, some other steps you can take are: Opting for public transport or carpooling, Using more CNG, and Keeping your vehicles’ pollution levels in check
Changes need to begin at home, especially when the consequences are dire. As citizens of the country, we should pledge to not only keep the air around us clean and healthy but also do our bit for the greater good of the environment and our future generations.
REMEMBER FRESH AIR IS NOT FREE YOU HAVE TO WORK FOR IT
IT’S TIME TO ASK OURSELVES…..
“Dekh To Dil Ki Jaan Se Uthta Hai
Yeh Dhuan Kahan Se Uthta Hai . . . . . . . . . . ”
– Meer Taqi Meer
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DR SHAHID MAHDI
MBBS , DNB (RESP MED), FRCCM
Director And Head
Cardiac Intensive Care
BLK – Max Superspeciality Hospital, New Delhi
Mob.: 9811051533
Fatima Clinic
F-11/73, Khirki Extn., Malviya Nagar, New Delhi – 110017