Hyderabad: The deteriorating quality of air due to rising pollution is a major cause for respiratory illness and cardiovascular diseases, said experts on World Environment Day which will be observed on June 5.
While the World Health Organisation has severely criticised the levels of pollution in Indian cities, doctors say that the number of diseases in otherwise healthy adults and children has seen a tremendous rise.
Dr Dinesh Chirla, paediatrician and director at Rainbow Children’s Hospital, said, “We have seen a significant rise in the number of respiratory diseases and incidence of asthma in children. This was not there a decade ago. We often find that when these children go to their native villages or abroad, they come back feeling better. This shows that there is something definitely wrong in the air.”
The pollution levels, which are monitored on a daily basis, have seen a sharp rise in the city. During March and April, the levels have increased to two times higher than the national standards prescribed by the Central Pollution Control board.
Paradise recorded the highest value of 160 micrograms/ m3, while the permissible level is just 60.
In places like Paradise and Punjagutta, the readings were 160 and 120, whereas the permissible limits as per the Central Pollution Control Board is just 60 micrograms/ m3 for particulate matter of size less than 10 micrometers.
In Abids, the Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) levels increased to 134 in April as compared to 93 in March; it rose from 102 to 130 in Charminar, from 93 to 120 in Punjagutta, from 115 to 160 near Paradise and from 55 to 66 near KBR Park.
Doctors claim that while children are suffering, adults who travel to and fro everyday are also exposing themselves to the risk of stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and also chronic and acute respiratory diseases including asthma.
Pulmonologist Dr V. Kumar said, “It affects the lungs and airways and also the functioning of heart and blood circulation. This in turn leads to the advent of diseases. Those who are traveling in highly congested areas for too long hours need to take precautionary measures.”
There is a strong need for the government to shift to non-polluting agents for vehicles and also control the number of vehicles in the city. Enforcement is the need of the hour say experts.
