Air pollution due to smoke from chulha and angithies, metal dust from machines in factories, and dust from stone cutting in Aravalis is leading to poor lung health among people in and around Faridabad. Individuals directly exposed to these pollutants are particularly at risk of severe lung disease, according to experts at Amrita Hospital. Doctors say they are seeing alarmingly poor lung health among people in the region, with many of them coming with advanced stage of lung disease after ignoring symptoms for years.

Women’s health is not given high priority

Said Dr. Arjun Khanna, Head, Dept. of Pulmonary Medicine, Amrita Hospital, Sector-88, Faridabad: “Women in villages in Faridabad and rural areas around Delhi are still cooking food on traditional chulha or angithis, which cause significant smoke pollution. They don’t realize that this smoke is even more dangerous than cigarette smoke and gets inhaled in large quantity daily. Even a few years of daily exposure to chulha smoke causes as much lung damage as someone smoking cigarettes for 30 years. Due to this, we are seeing large number of young women patients in their 30s and 40s suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a condition typically found in elderly cigarette smokers who have been smoking for decades. Many of these women are from well-to-do families in villages, but they still prefer to use chulha that burns wood or animal dung. This is an old kitchen tradition they find hard to break even when cooking gas is available.”

He added: “In India, neither lung disease nor women’s health are given high priority, and people tend to overlook symptoms for years. When exposed to chulha smoke, the situation becomes much worse. Treatment of COPD is not very difficult. Some basic medicines, breathing exercises, and avoiding smoke can make one’s life return to normal, even though the disease cannot be reversed.”

Also Read: Healthy lungs : Very crucial to fight against infectious disease. 

Pollution from industrial activity in the city

Faridabad is the biggest industrial town in Delhi-NCR. Direct exposure to pollution from industrial activity in the city is also causing poor lung health among people. Said Dr. Sourabh Pahuja, Consultant, Dept. of Pulmonary Medicine, Amrita Hospital, Sector-88, Faridabad: “Workers in industries are constantly getting exposed to pollutants and substances they work with, such as metal dust, leading to occupational lung diseases like asbestosis and silicosis. Faridabad falls in the Aravali range, with stone-crushing and stone-cutting as an industry. Stone dust is inhaled by these workers every day due to lack of protective equipment. Many people from factories and stone-crushers are coming to us, suffering from lung disease due to long-term exposure to pollutants at workplace.”

Also Read: Impact of air pollution on health and life – reduces life expectancy by 8 years.

The doctors said that another challenge is the reluctance of people in rural areas to allow children suffering from asthma to use pumps or nebulizers. “Asthmatic young children studying in school are not allowed to use pumps or nebulizers by parents due to fears that it will become a lifelong habit and hamper their marriage prospects. This is a deep social prejudice in rural and semi-urban areas that needs to be tackled,” said Dr. Sourabh Pahuja.

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With the onset of winters and festivals around the corner, the air quality index  (AQI) is plunging each day in Delhi and other nearby areas. The poor air quality is causing many health issues like throat irritation, sneezing, and coughing in almost all the age group. Apart from respiratory issues, exposure to air pollution also gives a rise to cardiovascular disorders, fatigue, headache and anxiety since people are also skeptical to visit hospitals due to the coronavirus pandemic, they are mostly adhering to home-based remedies and various green teas to keep their health on check and strengthen their immunity system.

However, it is suggested that whenever somebody is stepping outside, wearing a mask that fits your face is essential as it will not only protect from COVID-19 infection but also will prevent inhaling harmful pollutant matters. It is quite likely that you will experience respiratory illnesses like cough, cold and congestion if you don’t adhere to precautions. We also need to introduce certain lifestyle changes to fight with the air pollution. One of such amendments is drinking green tea, which has become a staple of health because of its numerous benefits. One of these benefits is that it helps fight many kinds of damages that pollution does to our bodies.

Why one should take green tea?

The time we live in undergoes more environmental issues like global warming and rising air pollution than any other generation. The catechin content of green tea acts as a savior to fight the ill-effects of pollution in our body. The catechins are antioxidants, which fight and prevent cell damage. We all know, taking antioxidants regularly reduces the risks of oxidative damage, which would otherwise result in diseases such as various forms of cancer.

The same applies to many kinds of effects that pollution has on our bodies. In case of air pollution our lungs get oxidized resulting in damage to the respiratory system. But, Green tea’s antioxidants fight to reverse this damage. Even the presence of EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate), a major polyphenolic compound, is found to exhibit a wide range of therapeutic properties, including:

• anti-oxidant
• anti-inflammatory
• anti-atherosclerosis
• anti-myocardial infarction
• anti-diabetes

Lemon and ginger green tea

Ginger is excellent for controlling cough, congestion and cold. Ginger is a natural antiviral which helps to fight against illness and bacteria that causes cold. Ginger can heal from nausea and reduce congestion. Lemon helps in strengthening the immune system. As lemons are rich in Vitamin C, this drink shields the body from disease-causing microbes and helps the body fight back without antibiotics.

Green Tea and Skin

Air pollution is not just a health concern. It is rapidly becoming a beauty issue not only in India but also globally. Toxic fumes from vehicles and industries are the primary cause of skin ageing in polluted cities. New research shows that air pollution causes wrinkles and premature ageing. Many studies suggest that both drinking green tea and applying it extracts can have benefits for your skin. Green tea extracts help with acne and help your skin look younger, but it also has the potential for helping to prevent melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers.

Mr. Sundeip Bhatia
Business Head
India Shilpa Medicare Ltd

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With the increase in pollution levels throughout the country and the rise in number of smokers, lung cancer has become more prevalent in the younger age groups. It is no longer limited to smokers to develop this type of cancer and a lot of non-smokers and passive smokers are also falling prey to it.  Air pollution is considered to be a major attributor for lung cancer in India, especially among the people below the age group of 40.

Rapid urbanization with rise in vehicle use, increased construction activities, plastic burning, stubble burning in few parts of the country has increased the PM level in the air thereby leading to multiple lung related issues. Using coal, wood fire for cooking in few pockets of the rural areas has also exposed people to heavy smoke inside the house. Tobacco usage, lack of awareness about the lung problems are leading to increased lung cancer cases in the country.

The number of non-smokers with lung cancer is rising every year. Sedentary lifestyle along with obesity, alcohol consumption is also adding to the risk factor. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the reasons for lung cancer and take the necessary precautions to avoid this.

Lung caner is the fourth largest killer in India and the major reason for this is the lack of awareness and ignorance by people. Early diagnosis plays a big role in determining how a cancer progresses in your body. Early detection not only reduces its effect but also help you treat and recover fully. Late detection or late diagnosis at an advanced stage can reduce the chances of the cancer getting better.

 Few early symptoms of lung cancer which gets ignored by many:

• Persisting cough: Be on alert when you develop cough and it stays for long. Cough associated with cold or other respiratory infection will get cured in a week or two. A stubborn cough can be an indication of a serious health problem.
• Change in cough: Pay attention to the way you cough –  chronic cough, particularly if you smoke. If you’re coughing more often, your cough is deeper or sounds hoarse, or you’re coughing up blood or an unusual amount of mucus it is advised to get tested.
• Change in breathing: Shortness of breath can also be a symptom of lung cancer. Changes in pace of breathing can occur if lung cancer blocks or narrows an airway, or if fluid from a lung tumor builds up in the chest.
• Wheezing: When airways become inflamed or blocked, there will be a whistle sort of sound when you breath.
• Pain in the chest: Chronic cough can lead to chest pain and also a person in the initial stages of lung cancer can develop pain near the chest, shoulder and back.
• Unintended weight loss: A sudden weight loss is always concerning. Due to the energy taken away by the cancer cells one might feel unexplained weight loss during this time.
• Bone pain: An unrecognised or untreated lung cancer can spread to bones and may produce pain and the back and other body parts. This pain may worsen during night, when you rest on your back.

Following are the few tips which can help in avoiding lung cancer:

1. Quit smoking –Smoking can lead to several lung related problems. Therefore, it is advised to stop smoking.
2. Avoid passive smoke – If your family members or friends smoke, convince them to quit. Also, do not be around them while they smoke.
3. Avoid pollution: Wear a mask when you step out of the house to save you from air pollution
4. Beware of indoor pollution: Using any kind of chemicals inside the house, exposure to the pollutants inside the house needs to be avoided
5. Exercise regularly: Sedentary lifestyle can lead to several health problems. Regular exercise for 30 minutes everyday helps in maintain good lung health
6. Eat nutritious food: Choose a healthy diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables. Food with vitamins and nutrients are recommended. Avoid taking large doses of vitamins in supplements form.

If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms associated with lung disease, consult the doctor immediately. In most cases the ignorance and delay in diagnosis is the cause for increased mortality.

Dr. Neelesh Reddy
Senior Consultant, Medical Oncology
Columbia Asia Referral Hospital
Yeshwanthpur, Bengaluru

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As scientists around the world based on various research studies have found out that corona virus is airborne, and the subsequent acknowledgment by the World Health Organization (WHO),the safety of public places, hotels and all kinds of indoor establishments is an important question. With conventional knowledge on the infection spread still being limited, the use of finite means of surface sanitization, hand sanitization and covering your face in a mask are perhaps not enough.

For a thorough protection against the novel corona virus, it is becoming clear that sanitizing the air we are breathing is critical. It is now more important than ever to keep indoor air rid of all kinds of virus, bacteria, and other microorganisms, as schools, workplaces, hotels, shopping malls and other public places open up. There is considerable literature in public domain pointing out the ineffectiveness of  air conditioning systems in tackling the health hazards caused by indoor air pollution.

High efficiency air purification systems for tackling the health hazards:

International associations such as ASHRAE and EUROVENT have issued guidelines and recommendations regarding the adoption  of high efficiency ISO-certified central air filtration systems equipped with Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) technology for protection against corona virus. High efficiency air purification systems can actively trap and kill harmful bacteria, viruses and all other pollutants from the indoor air with over 90% efficiency, ensuring no further proliferation of these pollutants, and providing healthy air to breathe for the building occupants. These high efficiency air purification systems even eliminate the SARS-CoV2 category of viruses (where coronavirus belongs) with over 90% efficiency.

At Magneto CleanTech, the commercial air purification systems were designed keeping these challenges in perspective. Magneto solutions offered during lockdown, to major corporations and business houses like Jindal Group, French International School (Delhi), IFFCO, EESL and Medanta Hospital in the country are already in use and producing optimal results in mitigating the risks related to spread of deadly viruses and harmful microorganisms. Magneto CleanTech’s expansion plans in the advent of the current crisis focus on delivering solutions across industries, while bringing latest innovations in the technology to the forefront, making it cost effective and accessible for the Indian industry.

Magneto Central Air Cleaner (MCAC) comes with internationally patented three-stage ‘Trap & Kill’ and filter-less magnetic technology, which eliminates particulate matter and harmful germs with over 90% efficiency. The latest version is powered with UVGI technology, trapping particles with sizes up to 0.1 microns, smaller even than the COVID-19 virus size. MCAC commercial central air purification systems were customized as per the requirements of premium customers such as Taj group of hotels and Godrej Air residential complex well before the pandemic and the results have been studied to significantly impact the Indoor air quality. A healthy indoor air quality does not just protect people from harmful viruses, but also improves their productivity, reduced health issues and protects expensive assets indoors. The young country that India is, air purification should be a top priority for everyone in order to provide a healthier, happier life to the next generation.

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Is Your Indoor Air Making You Ill? Air pollution is now the 4^th highest cause of mortality worldwide, with deaths in India reaching 1.61 million in 2016. Specifically, indoor air pollution in the country is far worse than outdoor air pollution and this means that inhabitants are exposed to the ill effects of inhaling airborne pollutants. From housewives cooking in kitchens to kids playing games in the study, everyone is exposed to the health hazards of polluted air. Indoor air pollution can make people sick and addressing air pollution concerns is vital in reducing health risks.

Sometimes Unseen Yet Deadly

One of the biggest sources of pollution in homes is the burning of firewood and cow dung. It affects 80% of rural households that depend on biomass fuels for cooking or heating according to Seghal. Unfortunately, houses in the countryside have poor ventilation, meaning that smoke coming from burning remains indoors and inhabitants inhale these toxic fumes. Eye irritation, coughing, headaches, breathing problems and other allergic reactions are the symptoms of smoke inhalation. Proximity to cooking stoves results in respiratory problems, while chronic exposure to biomass fuels is associated with cardiovascular diseases, according to Painschab et al.

Other sources of indoor air pollution include semi and volatile organic compounds from resins, waxes, polishing materials and cosmetics. Mites, dust, molds and pollen also contribute to indoor air pollution making it 10 times worse than outdoor air pollution according to a study by Kankaria et al. Deaths and illnesses associated with indoor air pollution include respiratory diseases, COPD, still births and cancer.

The Fight Against Pollutants

Educating the public about the hazards of indoor air pollution is an important strategy in mitigating the harmful health and environmental effects of bad air. Changes in fuel consumption behavior have already been adopted intensively by the government of India in an effort to aggressively attack the problem of smoke inhalation from biomass fuels. Subsidies for cleaner fuels were provided by the government to help households make the switch and reduce the health burden of toxic and poisonous fumes.

There are some things, too that you can do at home to improve the quality of air. For example, proper ventilation assists in dissipating toxic air and replacing it with cleaner air from the outside. Other ways to reduce indoor air pollution include airing your home at regular intervals, installing indoor water fountains, investing in air purifiers and putting up plants inside houses. While some options may cost money, you can also make simple lifestyle changes such as avoiding smoking indoors or refraining from using craft supplies in closed spaces.

Indoor air pollution is a concern that must be taken seriously since it affects the health of everyone who comes in close contact with harmful particulate matter. By educating people about their presence, health risks are reduced. Moreover, households can also take simple yet effective solutions in combatting air pollution including proper ventilation, and dusting homes regularly.

Keep your home fresh with indoor plants

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