Delhi is among most polluted cities in the world
Air pollution directly affects lung
Lungs of children are most vulnerable as the lungs are growing.
Children breath in more air than adults due to fast respiratory rate as compared to adults
Particulate matters in air particularly PM10 and PM2.5 can enter the airways and PM2.5 can go into alveoli
The level of PM10 and PM2.5 are 15 times higher in Delhi air as compared to set standard by World Health Organisation
The pollutants in air comprise obesogenic compounds responsible for making a child Obese
Obesity is associated with the development of Asthma in children
According to a cross sectional study done in 3 cities in India including the most polluted city Delhi and 2 less polluted cities in South India-Kottayam and Mysore, Published in LUNG INDIA September-October 2021,approximately 30% children in Delhi are suffering from Asthma.
Almost 50% children reported cough and 30% complained of shortness of breath.
Among 4361 children studying in private schools between the ages of 13-14 and 16-17,boys and girls, 3157 successfully completed the ISAAC Questionnaire and performed spirometry.
On the basis of spirometry ,which shows airway obstruction, a diagnostic component of Asthma,almost 30% children were diagnosed as having ASTHMA.
Most of the parents and children are not aware of this disease in children.
They are not easily accepting the diagnosis of ASTHMA in children, but it is a fact and we should do something proactively to control the level of pollution in cities to control the ASTHMA
The study has been published in LUNG INDIA September-October,2021
REFERENCES;. Singh V, Singh S, Biswal A. Exceedances and trends of particulate matter (PM2.5) in five Indian megacities Sci Total Environ. 2021;750:141461
Cited Here | PubMed | CrossRef
2. Central Pollution Control Board, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. National Ambient Air Quality Status and Trends. 2019 Available from: https://cpcb.nic.in/upload/NAAQS_2019.pdfLast accessed on 2020 Oct 28
Cited Here
3. The Lancet Planetary Health. . Government indifference over air pollution crisis in Delhi