Air pollution has been considered harmful to overall health in many ways. It is not only the main cause of lung-respiratory diseases, but the death toll is also increasing every year due to pollution. According to a recent study published in The Lancet Planetary Health Journal, the way air pollution levels are increasing has greatly increased the risk of many types of serious health problems. More than seven percent of the daily deaths in 10 major Indian cities are due to problems caused by pollution.
Study analyzed data from cities like Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Shimla and Varanasi. Experts revealed that small pollutants like PM2.5 are affecting the health of people of all ages. These pollutants can enter the lungs and bloodstream, which can have many types of side effects. It is worth
noting that due to air pollution, there can be a risk of serious damage to many organs of the body including the brain and lungs. Pollution has been a matter of serious concern in the capital Delhi-NCR.
The danger of PM 2.5 is increasing
Researchers said that the level of air pollution remains high in the capital Delhi during most months of the year. PM 2.5 air pollution is considered to be the major reason for daily and annual deaths in Delhi. Particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less easily enter the body through the breath. Vehicles and industrial areas are considered to be the major reasons for increasing pollution.
Around 12,000 deaths related to air pollution are recorded every year in the national capital, which is 11.5 percent of the total deaths.
Risk of long-term diseases due to pollution
Researchers said that the risk of diseases related to many organs is also increasing due to PM 2.5 pollution in Indian cities. Long-term exposure to pollutants can cause the risk of long-term lung-heart and respiratory diseases.
Researchers from Banaras Hindu University and the Chronic Disease Control Center in New Delhi analyzed about 36 lakh daily deaths in ten Indian cities from 2008 to 2019. Joel Schwartz, an expert at Harvard University and co-author of the study, says that thousands of lives can be saved every year by improving air quality.
Dangerous for heart and brain
Health experts say, air pollution is not just a problem affecting the lungs. It also significantly increases the risk of heart and brain related diseases. Harvard experts said, if you breathe in polluted air, it has a direct effect on our brain. Evidence shows that exposure to air pollution increases the risk of cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer-Parkinson.
Not only this, some research has also said that due to excessive exposure to pollutants, the risk of heart related diseases can also increase significantly.
(PC: ISTOCK)
