Higher level of air pollution leads to exacerbation of respiratory illnesses in children. DR PRAVEEN KHILNANI tells us about warning signs and ways to avoid it
In 1996, the city of Atlanta, Georgia USA took dramatic steps to improve the city's air quality for the summer Olympics. In the process, it showed how reducing air pollution can improve lung function.
They changed public transport to rapid transit and buses that ran on natural gas instead of
diesel— decreased asthma attacks by up to 44 per cent in children and ozone concentrations by 28 per cent the CDC (Centre for disease control, Atlanta) reported in a study in 2001 in The Journal of the American Medical Association.
Common air pollutants
Ozone, the primary component of smog, created by a chemical reaction that occurs when sunlight interacts with particulates (soot) from motor vehicle exhaust, gasoline vapors, and dust from power plants.
Particulate matter, also known as particle pollution, includes nitrates, sulfates, organic chemicals, metals, and soil or dust particles.
These small particles penetrate deeply into sensitive parts of the lungs and can cause or worsen respiratory disease, such as asthma , emphysema and bronchitis.
Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas formed when carbon in fuel is not completely burned. It is a component of motor vehicle exhaust, which contributes about 56% of all CO emissions nationwide.
Other sources are cigarette smoke, wood and gas stoves, and industrial emissions or firecrackers during Diwali season.
Children are susceptible to secondary Smoke as well(parents smoking around children)Greater incidence of respiratory problems such as cough and suffocation, more frequent respiratory infections, including both upper and lower tracts.
Children with underlying chronic lung diseases, particularly asthma, are especially vulnerable and are at greater risk of adverse effects of pollution.
Avoid air pollution or smog
Difficult to tackle problem and difficult solution: Avoid outdoors
Air quality is at its worst in the early mornings and evenings. No sports, no marathon, no outdoor matches.Very challenging to follow above Ideal recommendations
Children with known Asthma
Those children with asthma should continue to use their inhalers or nebulizers regularly.
If the symptoms increase, they should contact their doctors to increase the doses.
Warning signs
Warning signs include getting tired, breathless, waking up at night due to cough, and decreased effectiveness of inhalers.
Masks and air purifiers
Masks and air purifiers have more of a symbolic value. Wearing a mask is advisable outdoors but is not really very effective if worn loosely and may make breathing difficult if worn too tight.
Wearing the mask all the time is just not feasible.
There is no hard evidence to prove regarding the working of air purifiers since it is just not possible to sit in a room all day with air purifiers.