AIR POLLUTION Archives - CHILD AND CHEST HEALTH CARE

Nitric Oxide ,an Air pollutant, can cause Asthma in children,Dr Dev,M.D.,Pediatrician and Pediatric Pulmonologist Mohan Nagar,Delhi NCR

Pediatrician and Pediatric Pulmonologist Dr.Dev Kumar Jha,Formerly at AIIMS,New Delhi - 03 Feb, 2022 - Professionals Guide, - 0 Comment

Asthma is the most common chronic disease in children

It is caused by airway inflammation

NO2 ,which is emitted by fossil fuel burning(OIL AND GAS Burning) is responsible for causing airway inflammation

NO2 is mostly emitted by vehicles,agriculture machinary and power plants

Its level is rising particularly in South East Asia

Researchers from George Washington University US have studied in more than 13000 cities about the ground concentration of NO2 and incidence of Asthma between 2000 and 2019 and found that nearly 2 million new cases of asthma in children can be attributed to NO2 in 2019.

Nearly 262 million people are suffering from Asthma according to Global Burden of disease study

NO2 can be a causative factor for asthma and may be exacebating factor as well

This study highlights the importance of controlling air pollution

REFERENCES:LANCET PLANETARY HEALTH ,JANUARY ,2022

Air Pollution increases Pneumonia in children,Dr.Dev,M.D.,Pediatrician and Pediatric Pulmonologist,Rajendra Nagar Ghaziabad

Pediatrician and Pediatric Pulmonologist Dr.Dev Kumar Jha,Formerly at AIIMS,New Delhi - 19 Nov, 2021 - Parents’ Guide,Professionals Guide, - 1 Comment

In the period of October-November 2021 ,there is high level of air pollution in Delhi and NCR.
Air pollutants contain particulate matters of different sizes.
Pollutants containing sizes PM2.5 and PM10 are very dangerous.
These pollutants of size pm2.5 and pm10 can enter the respiratory tract of children.
PM 2.5 can easily enter the alveoli and damages it.
High pm2.5 was defined as pm2.5 level more than 10.75 mcg/cubic meter.
In one study published online on 29.10.2021 in Experimental biology and Medicine,out 810 children,220 were included in study and they were divided into two groups,one with high risk group for community acquired pneumonia(126 children) and second group with low risk for community acquired pneumonia(94).Pneumonia was defined by radiographic evidence of opacity consistent with pneumonia.
It was observrd that more cases of pneumonia were diagnosed from the area with high pm2.5 as compared to low pm2.5
The mean level of pm2.5 was 10.75mcg per cubic meter during study period which is lower than the high level set by U.S.Environmental protection agency .
According to the reports by SAFAR(System of air quality forecast and resaearch) Delhi,NCR,the highest level of pollutants including pm2.5,pm10,ovc,so2,co,nitric oxide are being seen in Delhi NCR air between midnight and 10 am in the morning as on 19.11.2021.Air quality index is in very poor category in Delhi,NCR as on 19.11.2021
So, air pollution is a risk factor for pneumonia in children

REFERENCES;1.. Mehta S, Shin H, Burnett R, North T, Cohen AJ. Ambient particulate air
pollution and acute lower respiratory infections: a systematic review
and implications for estimating the global burden of disease. Air Qual
Atmos Health 2013;6:69–83

2. Ostro B, Roth L, Malig B, Marty M. The effects of fine particle components on respiratory hospital admissions in children. Environ Health
Perspect 2009;117:475–80

Large population of Delhi NCR children have ASTHMA.Dr.Dev,MD,Pediatrician and Pediatric Pulmonologist,Ghaziabad,Delhi NCR

Pediatrician and Pediatric Pulmonologist Dr.Dev Kumar Jha,Formerly at AIIMS,New Delhi - 16 Sep, 2021 - Child Health Guides,Common Childhood Disease,Medical Guide,Parents’ Guide,Professionals Guide, - 0 Comment

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