Pollution levels in the city are rising to alarming levels over the past four months, with no possible solutions coming up for the issue of burning garbage. So dire is the situation, that levels are now hovering only a tad below New Delhi.
While the World Health Organisation (WHO) pegs the average level of particulate matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) in Delhi air at 153 mg per cubic metre, Pune is currently clocking 110 mg per cubic metre. This has been especially the case at Hadapsar, which is close to the garbage dump. The acceptable levels of PM2.5 according to WHO standards are 35. According to Indian standards, it stands at 60.
Particulate matter is the amount of suspended solid particles in the air and pollution is usually measured in terms of PM2.5 and 10 where 2.5 and 10 refer to the size of the particle. The smaller the particle, the more harmful it is since the nose cannot filter them and it goes right to the lungs.
Pollution in Pune has gone up by 30 to 40 per cent as compared to readings last year, according to data obtained from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).
“This is the first time ever that such a drastic increase has been observed. We feel all the garbage burning happening in the city could be the cause. If this is stopped, levels are sure to drop,” said Dr Gufran Beig, programme director, System of Air quality Forcasting and Research (SAFAR) from IITM.
Analysis shows that areas such as Bhosari and Manjari are the worst affected. Incidentally, both these areas have garbage depots nearby. At Bhosari, the level of pollution has almost doubled since last year. “Both these areas were considered relatively less polluted. It was places like Shivajinagar that always had high levels of pollution,” Beig added. Lohegaon, too, has recorded higher levels this year.
The increased pollution has brought with it a set of health ailments. While people suffering from asthma are already troubled, those otherwise in good health are also facing discomfort. Children are the worst affected.
“Respiratory problems among children have increased. Ailments such as allergic bronchitis are on the rise. They develop a prolonged cough, which causes their immunity to lower and secondary infections to develop. Moreover, it is also affecting nutrition, which again affects their resistance,” said Dr Anil Pansea, a specialist in community medicine in the city. He is seeing almost 20 to 30 per cent of patients in this category.
Dr Monica Barne from the Chest Research Foundation said increased pollution is affecting pregnant women, too. “Pollution has an adverse effect on the foetus and the child is pre-disposed to hyper reactive airways in the future. Moreover, earlier, research had shown that the lung capacity of Indians is 20 per cent lesser than Caucasians. This situation changed subsequently and in 2010, the capacity reduction was pegged at 35 per cent. This, too, is because of pollution,” Barne added.
While respiratory infections are already known as direct effects of increasing pollution, elements such as lead and other fumes also affect the body. “Once inhaled, these fumes are absorbed into the blood stream. Immediate effects are fatigue and drowsiness, but long-term exposure can have adverse effects on vital organs such as liver, brain, kidneys etc,” said Dr Avinash Bhondwe, former president of the Indian Medical Association and General Practitioners Association.
Source: Punemirror
