Did you know…?
Breathing the air in Mumbai for just 1 day is equivalent to smoking 100 cigarettes, a study says
Diwali celebrations ended almost a month ago but the contamination in the air still continues to threaten the city
In order to have minimal impact on a person’s health, the air quality index has to be between 0 and 50 but as recorded by the meteorological department in Mumbai last month, the air quality index has mounted to dangerously high levels of 225 which can easily increase the susceptibility to respiratory infections in sensitive individuals especially children and the elderly.
The air quality has worsened not only in Mumbai but in Delhi as well. Known for its crisp cold nights, Delhi weather has deteriorated to nothing but grey, smog-filled health nightmare. Pollution levels have escalated considerably over the past few days after both the cities witnessed a certain level of drop in the temperature
According to the World Health Organization, Every year, Air pollution claims millions of lives across the globe, with more than 627,000 deaths reported in India alone. According to a study 1 in every 8 deaths on earth are linked to Air Pollution
Prolonged exposure to high levels of air pollutants can not only cause respiratory disorders in healthy people but also impact those with existing heart and respiratory disorders. Mumbai’s air pollution standards index (PSI) shows that pollution levels rise after the monsoon and peak in December. Laden with toxic substances and cancer-causing particles, the air in Mumbai has become more polluted than the air in Beijing. One of the main causes of this outcome is the increasing number of vehicles on Mumbai’s streets. Motor vehicles emit a host of hazardous pollutants into the air, most of which are capable of causing a significant damage to the human health. Toxic gases emitted from chemical factories and fire crackers have further aggravated the problem of air pollution, thereby creating an unbearable living condition in India
Here are a few ways in which poor air quality can impact your health
- It causes lung cancer and also increases the risk of bladder cancer
- It aggravates the symptoms of Asthmatic patients
- It causes difficulty in breathing
- It leads to irritation in the eye
- It has a negative impact on the immune system
- It affects the texture of hair & skin
Constant monitoring of Air Quality is absolutely essential to keep a tab on the level of contamination. What’s more…, Educating people and creating awareness about the dangers of Air Pollution can transform the current scenario.
