The air we breathe has dangerous levels of pollutions; individuals with no history of respiratory problems are being rushed to hospital emergency rooms. While the government does its bit to improve air quality and lower air pollution, let us take measures to neutralise the effects of air pollution on our children, through nutrition.
The danger of air pollution – some statistics
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), Delhi is the most polluted city in the world. Delhi air has consistently recorded alarming levels of dangerous small particulates, known as PM 2.5s, per cubic meter. Air pollution causes more than 30, 000 deaths annually in Delhi alone.
A few reports, such as the one by the WHO, claim that 300,000 to 400,000 people die of indoor air pollution and carbon monoxide poisoning in India due to burning of biomass.
One of the main contributors of air pollution in India is construction work. The contaminants that mix in the air through wind include PM10, known as particulate matter with a diameter less than 10 microns. VOCs (volatile organic compounds), asbestos, gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen oxides also increase air pollution in India.
Data released by WHO shows that air pollution has a huge and terrible impact on child health and survival. Both ambient air pollution (AAP) and household air pollution (HAP) add up to respiratory tract infections that resulted in more than 5 lakh deaths in children under five years in the year 2016 .
How air pollution causes illness
This story is from the November - December 2019 edition of ParentEdge.
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This story is from the November - December 2019 edition of ParentEdge.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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