Beware — Smog zone ahead

Even for those not included in this high-risk group, the onset of smog means increased cough and upper respiratory tract infection.

For the high-risk group, the increase in the levels of sulphur dioxide, suspended particulate matter, ozone and the oxides of nitrogen creates havoc with the already damaged system. Out of these, sulphur dioxide is the most potent as it causes bronchitis spasms. Ozone causes inflammation of the inner lining of air passages. Acocktail of these lethal substances narrows and inflames the air passages, leads to swelling in the inner lining of the throat and, finally, wheezing and difficulty in breathing.

A study by Dr J N Pande, head of the Department of Medicine at AIIMS, has shown that on an average, during the year 1997-98, approximately 22 cardio-respiratory events were seen everyday in the casualty outpatient ward of the hospital.

“It is estimated that one-fourth of these could be attributed to the ambient levels of pollutants,” said Pande. The figures rose dramatically in November and December when the pollutants were trapped at the ground level, unable to escape into the atmosphere because of weather conditions.

In fact, WHO has come up with even more alarming statistics, saying in India there are 7,000 excessive deaths due to pollution which can be prevented. The link between pollution and health has been established time and again in India and abroad. When the Patel Chest Institute examined people who had been livingin Delhi for 10 years in polluted areas like Townhall and Shahzadabad along with those who were in less polluted areas, they discovered that those living in polluted areas had less lung capacity: Their lungs had shrunk.