National Pollution Control Day: Panel of Doctors issue health advisory

Bhubaneswar: Aiming to provide numerous ways in which citizens can prevent the impact of air pollution, doctors issued a health advisory on National Pollution Control Day at a press conference organized by the SwitchON Foundation at the Bhubaneswar Press Club. 

Focusing on the significance of understanding the magnitude of air pollution and its effects on the citizens as well as the society as a whole, the event was held on Friday, where experts discussed the different levels of health effects associated with air pollution.

Killing millions of people over the decades, the doctors advised the citizens of Odisha on the preventive measures and practices that should be adopted in everyday life to better prepare for the onslaught of polluted winter days.

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According to World Health Organization, Exposure to high levels of air pollution can cause a variety of adverse health outcomes. It increases the risk of respiratory infections, heart disease and lung cancer. Both short and long-term exposure to air pollutants has been associated with health impacts. More severe impacts affect people who are already ill. Children, the elderly and poor people are more susceptible.

Interventions to reduce air pollution include developing sustainable transport in cities; implementing solid waste management; providing access to clean household fuels and cookstoves; developing the market for renewable energies and energy efficiency, and implementing industrial emissions reductions.

The pace of industrialization in the last decades in this area has led to population surges, urbanization, and other related developments, bringing environmental impacts closer to the limits of the tolerance threshold.

Air pollution is a global public health emergency. Currently, 41,974,218 people in Orissa are breathing toxic air that does not meet WHO's clean air guidelines. The district with the worst air pollution in Orissa is Jharsuguda, where PM2.5 is forecasted to be 70.9 µg/m3. That's moderately polluted.

Attending the Press Conference, Dr. Damodar Bindhani Head, Pulmonary Medicines, CARE Hospital said "Indoor air pollution an unrecognized health hazard equally important as outdoor air pollution suffering mostly children with severe Asthmatic symptoms and Geriatric group with COPD with great numbers."

Dr Mamata Panda Pediatrician, CARE Hospital, said "Clean air is essential for good health in children. Children should be aware of the importance of planting trees from an early age."

Dr. Arpita Shubadarshinee, Medical In charge, UPHC told Orissa Diary "Air quality index of Bhubaneswar is definitely an area of concern. The value of AQI of Bbsr is around 153 that falls under unhealthy category with particulate matter conc of 2.5 that is currently 12 times the air quality guideline value. The growing population, urbanization, Construction work, migration has been the concerning factors that affect health of the individuals It leads to many respiratory, cardiac diseases, malignancies etc and is very detrimental for health of all starting from pediatric to geriatric"

Vinay Jaju, Founder of SwitchON Foundation later concluded the event: "Health professionals are calling the air pollution and health emergency, these advisory coming from Doctors must be taken up seriously. He further added stating – "Vehicular emissions are the largest emitters and the city needs to prioritize Cycles, Walking and Public Transport on an urgent basis."

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