Delhi-NCR Air Pollution: Long-term health hazards of exposure to Delhi’s toxic air pollution |

There seems to be no end to the atrocities of air pollution in Delhi NCR. Despite the hazardous air quality, daily life continues in the region; It stands in stark contrast to the shock and concern expressed by outside observers. The visuals are frightening and suffocating even when viewed.
Breathing polluted air has become an inevitable ordeal and the health risks are becoming more alarming day by day. Although the pollution will clear within a few days, returning to normal AQI, exposure to this toxic air will leave a footprint for a long time.
It’s time we discuss the long-term effects of exposure to Delhi’s toxic air.

Review study finds short-term and long-term impact of pollution exposure

A study published in the International Journal of Environmental Health Research in 2019 by Indian researchers found that short-term exposure to environmental pollutants had strong associations between COPD, respiratory diseases, and respiratory diseases.
higher rates of hospital admissions or visits. The long-term effects of ambient air pollution are associated with poor lung function, asthma, heart attack, cardiovascular mortality and premature death.

The effect of air pollution on the lungs is similar to the effect of tobacco and cigarettes.

“Deterioration of air quality in Delhi is a long-standing significant health risk and therefore individual actions are of utmost importance. Prolonged exposure to high levels of pollution causes not only respiratory and vascular diseases but also respiratory and vascular diseases.” “There are also intense mental health issues,” said Dr (Col) SP Rai, Consultant, Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai.
Chest Diseases Consultant, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Indore. “The effect of air pollution on people’s lungs is very similar to the effect of various carcinogens such as tobacco, cigarette smoke and hookah smoke (sic),” said Ravi Dosi.

Complications Delhi’s air pollution can make person vulnerable

“Pollutants such as PM2.5 and nitrogen dioxide are the main causes of long-term exposure to respiratory diseases that lead to heart problems such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and stroke. Poor air quality is also a causal factor in the aggravation of systemic heart attack. There may be a malfunction in the blood vessels and heart inflammation is a risk factor for the elderly and those with diseases,” explains Dr. Rai. “Major cases of such respiratory disorders include COPD, asthma, and ILD. COPD is a progressive condition that causes shortness of breath, and therefore a person suffers more due to exposure to emission gases and pollutants. This is caused by prolonged breathing “It is a debilitating disease caused by exposure to environmental toxins such as tobacco or PM,” he added.

Air pollution affects mental health

“Air pollution also causes mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. Chemical deficiency and pollution in the brain, serotonin production and their regulation, affecting mood, as well as memory loss, have been found to be a long-term factor. Low AQI has also been found to cause mental disorders due to physical health problems.” “The elderly, children and people with existing diseases are most exposed to these long-term risks,” explains Dr. Rai.
“We need to protect our eyes, ears, nose and lungs from the effects of air pollution because chronic exposure to these pollutants sometimes not only causes irreversible changes in the respiratory system, but can also increase the risk of vascular events in the brain and heart. Mortality from diseases such as MI and stroke “Patients with higher blood pressure, chronic lung conditions, or hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, are very susceptible to further problems due to exposure to excessive air pollution,” says Dr. Dosi.

“Exposure to Delhi’s poor air quality over several years can cause serious health effects in the long run. High levels of particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and other pollutants such as PM2.5 and PM10 can cause chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and bronchitis.” Other problems that may occur due to increased exposure are cardiovascular problems, such as hypertension, heart attack, and stroke. Over time, this polluted air can worsen lung function, especially in children. “Specific inflammation caused by toxic air can weaken the immune system and make people more vulnerable to infectious diseases and other diseases,” explains Paras Hospital Neurointerventionist, Gurugram. Group Director Dr. Vipul Gupta.