Diwali smoke has resulted in heavy smog; heavy pollutants in the air due to emission of harmful gases cause prolonged respiratory disorders, says Dr Pankaj Aggarwal
With the lights and sparkling of lamps, Diwali is the most awaited festival of the year full of love, excitement and togetherness. Although there is a flip side too: The increasing number of firecrackers burst during the so-called festival of lights has led to respiratory and other diseases. The aged and the children are the most prone. Even pregnant women are at risk as safeguarding themselves from poisonous emissions caused by the crackers becomes tough.
Diwali smoke often results in smog, causing breathing problems. Heavy pollutants in the air due to emission of harmful gases cause acute and prolonged respiratory disorders. According to an expert, in Delhi, the quality of breathing air has gone beyond a degrading point, thereby reducing the oxygen content. This is the case in almost every city. This has resulted in an increase in the number of people suffering from respiratory problems, especially the elderly and children.
Breathing is essential for survival. Adequate amount of oxygen is vital for humans to function. People are getting oxygen but it is not enough for the organs to function to the best capacity. Along with oxygen, we are inhaling other dangerous gases, such as sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide — released from the smoke of crackers and other such elements.
Emissions from automobiles, factories and warehouses contain gases and pollutants filled with heavy metal poisoning content, like lead, which is circulated to the brain while inhaling the air. This results in decreased energy levels and immunity, congestion, cough and cold, body ache and fatigue. In the long term, people could get Alzheimer’s as these pollutants contain lead and other heat metals that do permanent damage to brain, leading to memory loss.
Patients suffering from asthma might face insomnia, acute hair fall and dryness, skin infections like acne, pimples and rashes due to settling of polluted dust particles post-Diwali. One might get deficient of oxygen, which could prolong the harmful effects of the polluted environment.
SMOG (SMOKE+FOG)
Smog is used to describe the type of fog which has smoke or soot in it. It is a yellowish or blackish fog formed mainly by a mixture of pollutants in the atmosphere which consists of fine particles and ground level ozone.
Smog, which occurs mainly because of air pollution, can also be defined as a mixture of various gases with dust and water vapor. It also refers to hazy air that makes breathing difficult. Smog is often caused by heavy traffic, high temperatures, sunshine, and calm winds. These are the few factors behind the increasing level of air pollution.
During the winter months, the low wind speeds help the smoke and fog to stagnate at a place, forming smog, and thus increase pollution levels near the ground closer to where people breathe. It also hampers visibility and pollutes the environment.
The time that smog forms depends directly on the temperature. Smog can prove dangerous for suburbs, rural areas, as well as urban areas or large cities.
Effects of Smog
· Smog is harmful and it is evident from the components that form it. It is harmful to humans, animals, plants, and the nature as a whole.
· Heavy smog is responsible for decreasing the UV radiation greatly. It results in low production of Vitamin D, often leading to rickets among people.
· When a city or town gets covered in smog, the effects are felt immediately. Smog can be responsible for any ailment from minor pains to deadly pulmonary diseases, such as lung cancer.
· Smog can also cause irritation in the eyes.
· It may result in inflammation in the tissues of lungs, causing pain in the chest. Other illnesses, such as cold and pneumonia, are also related to smog.
· Minor exposure to smog can lead to greater threats of asthma attacks; people suffering from asthma must avoid exposure.
· Smog also causes premature deaths and affects densely populated areas building it up to dangerous levels. The high-risk group includes the elderly, children, and those with cardiac and respiratory complications.
· The ground level ozone present in the smog also inhibits plant growth and causes immense damage to crops and forests. Crops and vegetables like soybean, wheat, tomatoes, peanuts, and cotton are subject to infection when they are exposed to smog.
· The smog results in mortifying impacts on environment as it kills innumerable animal species and green life as these take time to adapt to breathing and surviving in such a toxic environment.
Prevention and precaution
· Use public transportation or walk whenever possible.
· Combine errands and carpool to reduce driving time and trips.
· Use less electricity by turning air conditioning to a higher temperature setting, and turning off lights, TVs and computers when they are not being used.
· Avoid using gasoline-powered engines, such as lawn mowers, chain saws and leaf blowers.
· Children and people with respiratory conditions should stay indoors as much as possible.
· If you must go outside, go in the morning when smog is at the lowest level; keep your activity light, and take frequent breaks.
· Avoid exercising outdoors.
· If you have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), always carry your inhaler, antibiotic, or oral steroid.
· Wear a mask when you go outside. Masks help filter out particles and irritants that aggravate allergy and asthma symptoms.
Air quality is worst at this moment due to poor air speed as winters are setting in. Here’s how homeopathy can help you:
· Homoeopathic treatment is given according to individual situation and symptoms. It follows an individualised approach as everyone reacts according to his/her personality.
· It is recommended to take steam before and after sleep, during the day as well as night.
· Drink plenty of water to flush out the toxins from your body.
· Chronic diseases like Alzheimer’s can also be treated with homeopathy in such critical conditions too.
The writer is a Senior Homeopathy Physician at Agrawal Homeo Clinic, Delhi