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.
The 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 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 risk of PM 2.5 is increasing
The researchers said that the level of air pollution remains high in the capital Delhi in most months of the year. PM 2.5 air pollution is considered to be the main 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 main reason 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
The researchers said that due to PM 2.5 pollution in Indian cities, the risk of diseases related to many organs is also increasing. Long-term exposure to pollutants can lead to chronic lung-heart and respiratory diseases.
Researchers from Banaras Hindu University and the Chronic Disease Control Center in New Delhi analyzed about 3.6 million 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 the heart and brain
Health experts say that 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 that if you breathe polluted air, it has a direct impact on your brain. Evidence suggests that exposure to air pollution increases the risk of neurodegenerative diseases including cognitive decline and Alzheimer's-Parkinson's.
Not only this, some research also says that due to excessive exposure to pollutants, the risk of heart-related diseases can also increase significantly.
(PC: ISTOCK)
