Air pollution: Study reveals alarming impact of Delhi's rising pollution levels on health; AIIMS doc flags concerns
New Delhi, November 2: As winter descends upon New Delhi, air quality is once again on a concerning decline. On Thursday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the city stood at 343, categorising it as 'very poor' for the fifth consecutive day. This alarming trend raises the potential for a health emergency.
A study, jointly conducted by four prominent hospitals, has shed light on the alarming connection between escalating pollution levels and a surge in emergency cases. The study, spanning from 2017 to 2019, involved esteemed institutions such as the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi; Kalavati Saran Children's Hospital; Vallabhbhai Chest Institute; and the National Institute of TB and Respiratory Diseases Hospital.
The hospitals closely monitored the health status of patients arriving at their emergency wards on a daily basis. Additionally, data on outstation patients, including those residing in Delhi for three to four weeks, were collected for analysis.
Dr SK Kabra, head of the paediatric department at AIIMS Hospital, highlighted that the number of emergency patients in these hospitals tends to spike during periods of heightened pollution in the city. Citing the aforementioned study, Dr Kabra emphasised that increasing pollution levels in the city have severe adverse effects on the health of both children and adults, often necessitating hospital admission.
Dr Kabra explained, "The need to seek treatment in the emergency room arises when a patient's condition is extremely critical."
Elaborating on the study, the AIIMS doctor revealed that it encompassed both children and adults over a span of approximately two years. During this period, more than 1,00,000 children sought treatment in the emergency departments of AIIMS and Kalavati Sharan Children Hospital in Delhi. Among them, respiratory issues were observed in 25% of the children. Likewise, out of around 70,000 adults, 10% were found to be experiencing respiratory problems. Notably, the study underscored that children were more significantly impacted by the detrimental effects of pollution.
The study, which was commissioned by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), also observed that patients seeking emergency medical care due to pollution-related problems often did not have pre-existing severe medical conditions. Many of them were individuals who had recently relocated to Delhi and were experiencing symptoms such as chest pain, severe cough, and breathing difficulties.
This research underscores the critical public health concern posed by deteriorating air quality in New Delhi.
- ANI
