Air pollution behind poor lung capacity among kids: study

Air pollution behind poor lung capacity among kids: study

Context:

A report released by the Hazards Centre revealed that air pollution is behind poor lung capacity among children in Delhi

About the Study:

• Particulate matter pollution was monitored over 15 different locations in Delhi
• The study was conducted for more than three months in a row this winter on a sample size of 343
• The study conducted a peak flow test (done to measure how well your lungs are working by assessing how quickly one can blow air)
• Tests were conducted in areas where the monitors are installed, and out of the 15 locations, the samples for the health study were taken from 11 different areas.
• The samples were collected from Holambi, Bhalaswa, Ayanagar, Punjabi Bagh, Wazirpur, Seelampur, Seemapuri, Saket, Okhla-NFC, Badarpur-TGK and Munirka.

Highlights of the Report:

• The study revealed 80% of the sample population had unhealthy or below the normal lung functioning.
• The study also found that in the southern and northern peripheries of the city children seem to have better health
• However, air is of poor quality in the entire city

Air Pollution in Delhi:

The air quality monitoring highlighted the fact that there is a base pollution load across Delhi of about 300 ug/m3 for PM10 and 200 ug/m3 for PM2.5, which is three times higher than the approved limits

Causes of the air pollution

• The source of pollution is located in Delhi
• Industrial emission and vehicle fumes which has been sealed by cool temperature and still winds is the main reason behind this pollution
• At the same time, mass burning of crop waste across the north Indian hinterland has sent dense smoke

The impact

• Severe air pollution has caused a public health crisis in Delhi
• It not only causes respiratory diseases but in the longer term, consistent poor quality air is seen to be altering the demographics of cancer in the city.