Pollution lower than last year but health risk continues: AIIMS

The capital woke up to a thick smog cover, a day after Diwali. With air quality hovering at the severe level, children continue to be the most vulnerable. (Express photo: Praveen Khanna)

Despite the national capital’s air quality being better this Diwali when compared to last year, the All Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) said the drop is not significant and that “severe” pollution levels can result in a “dramatic difference in the overall health of an individual”. The institute added that adverse impact, if any, of ‘severe’ and ‘poor’ pollution levels recorded from various parts of the city on Thursday, will show up in the next 48 hours.

Pulmonologist and AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria told The Indian Express: “It is still too early to determine the impact of the ban on the sale of crackers, as well as pollution levels recorded during Diwali, as less than 24 hours have passed. The surge usually occurs in the subsequent 24-48 hours. If the impact is adverse, we will see an increase in the number of patients during the weekend or on Monday. If you look at data across the world, the effects of high levels of pollution usually occur in the subsequent 24-48 hours.”

While pollution levels recorded this Diwali are on the lower side compared to last year, the AIIMS official said it will still “make a dramatic difference in the overall health of the individual”.

“There are two ways of looking at the pollution levels. If you take a look at the air quality index, it is better than the previous year which is an improvement. But if you look at it from a health point of view, the improvement is still not significant because it is still in the ‘very poor’ range. This means that individuals with chronic respiratory and heart diseases will continue to face a significant risk of worsening of symptoms. It also means that if we continue to breathe air, which is of very poor quality, it will have long-term effects such as poor lung development, increased chances of heart diseases and worsening of underlying respiratory diseases,” Dr Guleria said. He added: “When the air quality is severe, it does not lead to immediate mortality. However, it has a sustained effect on the airways or the body – requiring hospitalisation or medical help.”

With air quality hovering at the severe level, the official said children continue to be the most vulnerable. “Their lungs are still growing. Children who have allergic rhinitis, asthma or recurrent infections are affected the most. This is also the age where lung growth takes place. If they are exposed constantly to high levels of pollution, it will affect their overall lung growth and lung capacity,” Dr Guleria said.