‘Breathing toxic air is equivalent to smoking at least 10 cigarettes a day’: AIIMS doctor

  • November 14, 2023
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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‘Breathing toxic air is equivalent to smoking at least 10 cigarettes a day’: AIIMS doctor

Subject: Environment

Section: Pollution

Context:

  • Two cities joined New Delhi to be among the world’s worst 10 for pollution with smoke heavy in the air a day after revellers let loose with firecrackers for Deepavali.

Details:

  • The other two cities are: Kolkata (at rank 10) and Mumbai (rank 8).
  • It is equivalent to smoking at least 10 cigarettes a day.
  • An AQI level of 400-500 impacts healthy people and is dangerous to those with existing diseases, while a level of 150-200 brings discomfort to people with asthma, lung and heart problems. Levels of 0-50 are considered good.
  • Air pollution in parts of Delhi was 30 times the safe limits prescribed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Causes of air pollution in Delhi:

  1. Geographical reasons:
    • During winter, the air is not that hot. The pollutants are trapped and tend to get concentrated at lower levels of the atmosphere (due to temperature inversion), resulting in the smoke and haze situation.
    • As winds arrive from the coasts, bringing with them pollutants picked up along the way, they get ‘trapped’ right before the Himalayas. Causing pollution in Delhi.
    • The average wind speed in winter in the Delhi NCR region is one-third of the summer months. This increases the pollutant concentration in the region.
  2. Anthropogenic reasons:
    • Vehicular and industrial emissions, Stubble burning, Fireworks in the run-up to Diwali, Construction Activities, Open Waste Burning, High Population

How does air pollution affect health?

  • Air pollution increases the risk of- Stroke, cognitive impairment, COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease], cancer, asthma or ILDs [interstitial lung diseases].
  • Long-term exposure can lead to pneumonia.
  • Due to long-term exposure to air pollution, even the lungs of a non-smoker are visibly darker and carbon-loaded in Delhi.

Precautions include:

  • Avoid exercising early in the morning and late in the evening.
  • Use N95 masks and air purifiers.

About IQAir:

  • Founded in 1963
  • IQAir is a Swiss air quality technology company, specializing in protection against airborne pollutants, developing air quality monitoring and air cleaning products.
  • IQAir also operates AirVisual, a real-time air quality information platform.
  • Headquarters- Goldach, Switzerland

Source of this article: The Hindu

Breathing toxic air is equivalent to smoking at least 10 cigarettes a day Environment