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Kids, the worst victims of pollution
Toxics Link Source: Deccan Herald, Date: , 2013
Pollution
and Delhi have become synonymous with each other. Be it the pollutants released
by the burgeoning number of vehicles or harmful industrial chemicals, the
residents suffer the most. Obviously, it’s not a new revelation! But what may
surprise many is that school kids are getting the worst of this pollution and
are showing early symptoms of illnesses like pulmonary obstruction. In
a report published in World Allergy Organisation Journal, it has been revealed
that children aged 10-14, dwelling in commercial areas of Delhi are most
susceptible to respiratory ailments followed by industrial and residential
areas. The survey was conducted by the Allergy and Immunology Section of the
Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), the National Environmental
EnÂgÂineering ReÂsÂearch Institute and DiÂÂÂreÂctorate of Education, on 2000
children residing in Chandni Chowk, Mayapuri and Sarojini Nagar.
Results found that 66 percent children in Chandni ChÂoÂwk (commercial area)
suffÂeÂrÂed from pulmonary obÂsÂÂtruction followed by 59 percent in Mayapuri
(industrial) and 46 percent in Sarojini Nagar (residential).
“Chandni Chowk is congested. There’s hardly any place for ventilation inside
homes. As a result, maximum number of kids suffer from respiratory illnesses
like couÂgÂhÂing, wheezing and have difficulty in breathing,” says Dr PC
Kathuria, senior consultant, Allergy and Asthma, BLK Hospital. According to
him, the problem is not only prevalent in Chandni Chowk but in other parts of
the City like Rohini and Dwarka too. “TeenÂs in these areas are also suffering
from respiratory problems because of the increase in the level of Particulate
Matter (PM) inside homes,” says he.
Establishing the connect between the low immunity level in kids and maximum time
they spend inside schools or homes, Dr Kathuria says, “Owing to unhealthy food
habits, the immune system of kids is generally disturbed. So the PM they
inhale induces reactions inside their bodies in the form of allergic bronchitis. This is
further triggered by outdoor pollution.” Notably these PM include
allergens like dust and fungal
spores.
But why are children in commercial areas more susceptible to pulmonary obstrÂuÂcÂtion
problems rather than those in the industrial areas? “It depends upon the land
usage pattern. Generally, commercial areas are congesÂted and therefore
accumulatiÂon of particulate matter is more. There is always a high content of
dust in these areas. In the absence of proper ventilation, PM circulate inside
the home and increase in quantity over time,” says Ravi Aggarwal, director, NGO
Toxic Link.
However, Prof SK Chabra, MD,
Pulmonary Medicine, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute attributes the
reason to the increase in the number of vehicles. “In 2000, when CNG run
vehicles were introduced, the pollution level was brouÂgÂht down. But 2006
onwards there has been a sharp incrÂeÂaÂse in the pollution level becaÂuÂse
vehicles have increased especially heavy vehicles like the diesel run SUVs.”
He says, “Owing to government’s lack of fuel and vehicle management, these
pollutants are finding their way to homes and it is not restricted to a few
areas. Almost every part of the City is affected. Soon, there will be spurt in
the number of young kids ending up patients of respiratory illnesses.”
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