Coimbatore: Referring air pollution as one of the major reasons for the increase and complications in Covid-19 cases, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) of Coimbatore branch and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) on Monday, here addressed the need of containing environmental pollution in the city.
Coimbatore: Referring air pollution as one of the major reasons for the increase and complications in Covid-19 cases, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) of Coimbatore branch and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) on Monday, here addressed the need of containing environmental pollution in the city.
The newly installed President of IMA Coimbatore, Dr. V. Rajesh Babu told that air pollution is the second leading factor in India contributing to around 12.5% deaths with 1.24 million of total deaths and 8.1% of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY) of healthy year of life lost of 38.7 million of total DALY’s, in 2018.
With Covid-19 in place, air pollution has become a potential threat
He also noted that lower respiratory infections, ischemic heart diseases, stroke, diabetic mellitus, lung cancer and cataract, as some of the major possible outcomes due to increasing air pollution.
However, with Covid-19 in place, air pollution has become a potential threat by damaging the inner linings of lungs, leading to failure and thus increasing the severity of infection, amid Covid patients.
The national chapter of IMA on October, 2020, had attributed air pollution in New Delhi, as one of the prime reasons for increase in number of Covid patients. It said that poor quality of air with the particulate matter of PM 2.5, can cause asthma, BP and cardiac ailments.
Breathing poor air quality may result immediate health issues including chronis heart issues.
Dr. Priya Kubendiran, Secretary of IMA, Coimbatore branch, also a cardiac specialist, says it’s better if people stop stepping out unnecessarily, as breathing poor air quality may result in severe heart issues.
“Patients with heart issues should be more cautious, as it increases the chance of developing atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis develops fats and cholesterol on artery walls, hindering blood flow to the heart, which is sometimes could turn fatal", she added.
Poor air quality can impact birth weight of newborns and preterm birth
Lung and gynaecologist experts also stressed about the iill-effects of poor air quality and long lasting impact on health. Gynaecologists opine that poor air quality can have serious health issues in newborns like low birth weight, preterm birth, birth defects and Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) among pregnant ladies.
Major source of air pollution in Coimbatore is due to the vehicular pollution.
Seconding the medical experts, Dr. Ramesh, AE of South Coimbatore of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) informed that the major source of air pollution in Coimbatore is due to the vehicular pollution.
Burning of tyres increases toxicity in air
Not to forget the air pollution caused by burning of toxic wastes such as tyres, plastics and foams, which directly affects the kidney, he added
Hence, he appealed to the people of the city not to burn tyres and plastic wastes during the upcoming Bhogi festival during Pongal.
He strongly opined that burning tyres is the reason, why there are toxic exposures in the particulate matter. Children, elders and persons with prior heart and lung diseases are the most affected by this toxicity, he added.
Experts while addressing the media also emphasised on the impact of air pollution amid Covid patients and how it complicates their journey towards recovery.
Responding to a question of impact of air pollution on pre mature deaths, the experts refused to answer citing no data is available on that. However, data says that nearly 6,374 pre mature deaths have been reported in Chennai during January- September, 2020, due to the poor air quality.
It is to be noted that the air quality in the city has decreased, since the start of the pandemic outbreak, according to data from centres testing air quality. The air quality in Coimbatore was at PM 2.5, 26.11 metre per cubic metre. However, the officials noted that at present the air quality remains at the "safest" level, when asked.
IMA, Coimbatore and TNPCB together assured to work on containing the environmental pollution in the city.
The newly installed President of IMA Coimbatore, Dr. V. Rajesh Babu told that air pollution is the second leading factor in India contributing to around 12.5% deaths with 1.24 million of total deaths and 8.1% of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY) of healthy year of life lost of 38.7 million of total DALY’s, in 2018.
With Covid-19 in place, air pollution has become a potential threat
He also noted that lower respiratory infections, ischemic heart diseases, stroke, diabetic mellitus, lung cancer and cataract, as some of the major possible outcomes due to increasing air pollution.
However, with Covid-19 in place, air pollution has become a potential threat by damaging the inner linings of lungs, leading to failure and thus increasing the severity of infection, amid Covid patients.
The national chapter of IMA on October, 2020, had attributed air pollution in New Delhi, as one of the prime reasons for increase in number of Covid patients. It said that poor quality of air with the particulate matter of PM 2.5, can cause asthma, BP and cardiac ailments.
Breathing poor air quality may result immediate health issues including chronis heart issues.
Dr. Priya Kubendiran, Secretary of IMA, Coimbatore branch, also a cardiac specialist, says it’s better if people stop stepping out unnecessarily, as breathing poor air quality may result in severe heart issues.
“Patients with heart issues should be more cautious, as it increases the chance of developing atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis develops fats and cholesterol on artery walls, hindering blood flow to the heart, which is sometimes could turn fatal", she added.
Poor air quality can impact birth weight of newborns and preterm birth
Lung and gynaecologist experts also stressed about the iill-effects of poor air quality and long lasting impact on health. Gynaecologists opine that poor air quality can have serious health issues in newborns like low birth weight, preterm birth, birth defects and Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) among pregnant ladies.
Major source of air pollution in Coimbatore is due to the vehicular pollution.
Seconding the medical experts, Dr. Ramesh, AE of South Coimbatore of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) informed that the major source of air pollution in Coimbatore is due to the vehicular pollution.
Burning of tyres increases toxicity in air
Not to forget the air pollution caused by burning of toxic wastes such as tyres, plastics and foams, which directly affects the kidney, he added
Hence, he appealed to the people of the city not to burn tyres and plastic wastes during the upcoming Bhogi festival during Pongal.
He strongly opined that burning tyres is the reason, why there are toxic exposures in the particulate matter. Children, elders and persons with prior heart and lung diseases are the most affected by this toxicity, he added.
Experts while addressing the media also emphasised on the impact of air pollution amid Covid patients and how it complicates their journey towards recovery.
Responding to a question of impact of air pollution on pre mature deaths, the experts refused to answer citing no data is available on that. However, data says that nearly 6,374 pre mature deaths have been reported in Chennai during January- September, 2020, due to the poor air quality.
It is to be noted that the air quality in the city has decreased, since the start of the pandemic outbreak, according to data from centres testing air quality. The air quality in Coimbatore was at PM 2.5, 26.11 metre per cubic metre. However, the officials noted that at present the air quality remains at the "safest" level, when asked.
IMA, Coimbatore and TNPCB together assured to work on containing the environmental pollution in the city.