Air Pollution: It’s Magnitude and Effects on Health
by Prof. Bhushan Manchanda
My Seventy Year old colleague whom I know for over 20 years, never ever missed his 6.30 am walk in his Colony Park. But after four seasons of wading through the smoky haze of the city winter mornings and the earlier Covid 19 pandemic problems, last month he collapsed and was diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a chronic inflammatory lung disease that obstructs airflow in the lungs.
What he didn’t realise is that for four years, he had been breathing a deadly cocktail of polluted air, one that was layered with diesel from overnight plying trucks, the smoke from the chokehold of burnt stubble from farm fires and the heavy particles that clogged his airways. Low temperatures and little or no wind in the city means that the pollutants settle down deep and thick.
Pollution is the worst trigger for senior citizens as it ends up aggravating their pre-existing conditions. So no way should they be walking in the early morning. In fact, they should postpone it to later in the day when the pollutants are suitably dispersed or devise some indoor routines. According to Doctors, senior citizens, for whom walking is compulsory, should walk only when sunshine arrives. When there is sunshine, the pollutant load lessens at the surface level. There is a phenomenon called inversion when pollutants disappear in the air as the sunshine arrives. Those who want to walk can venture out then but going for a walk before that can be fatal.
Doctors have also explained that children under the age of five breathe air faster than adults and as a result take in more contaminants. Children are more susceptible than adults to the impacts of pollution as they breathe air that is 93 per cent polluted on a daily basis. This can seriously endanger their health and development. Asthma and Childhood Cancer can be brought on by air pollution, which also has an effect on neurodevelopment and cognitive functions.
The polluted air, understandably, causes everyone to cough, irritates their throats, and even spreads virus diseases. People with asthma and cardiovascular problems are in much worse shape. of pollution. Vitamins A, C, and E aid in the healing of the body and the prevention of inflammation caused by pollution or other toxins. Nutritionists recommend eating carrots, sweet potatoes, radish, spinach, fenugreek (methi), and pumpkin for Vitamin A, based on the vegetables and fruits available this season. Vitamin C is abundant in lemon, Amla, and oranges, whereas Vitamin E is abundant in rice bran oil and almonds.
Conclusion Please check the local Air Pollution (AQI) forecasts on a daily basis. If all these steps are taken diligently, there are high chances that you can save yourself from the long term effects of air pollution.Please share these 5 Tips with your friends, neighbours and colleagues and help them in protecting themselves from the Air Pollution and it’s serious after effects.
