Smog in Delhi NCR - A Hazard to people with Respiratory Problems

New Delhi: (From : http://ibnlive.in.com/news/delhi-smog-set-alarm-bells-ringing-haze-to-continue-for-three-days/303937-3-244.html)
It's the first week of November and a thick blanket of smog has pervaded the Delhi skyline, indicating a sharp rise in pollution levels. The level of pollution in Delhi is higher than what it was last Diwali. It's taking a toll on asthma patients in the city.
The grey-white 'haze' over the national capital for the past week has set alarm bells ringing. And there seems to be no respite for the next two to three days.
With a week to go for Diwali, the national capital's nitrogen levels are worse than ever. In fact the pollution level this year were worse than the air quality recorded last year during Diwali, and the experts link the rising pollution levels to a rise in motor vehicular traffic.

For those suffering from respiratory diseases like asthma and bronchitis, the smog has hit hard. Children and the elderly remain vulnerable to infection and headaches.
With the visibility level dipping below 400 meters due to the smog and Delhi adding around 1,000 vehicles to its already existing 6.5 lakh vehicles, rise in pollution level in the city remains a major concern.



NEW DELHI:  (From : http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-03/delhi/34892768_1_smog-asthma-patients-risk-of-asthma-attacks)

For the last couple of days, Greater Kailash resident, Esha Verma, has been staying indoors during the evenings. It's not the nip in the air she's worried about. Verma, an asthma patient, prefers not to step out because she fears the smog will aggravate her breathing problem.

The blanket of smog that has enveloped the city has sent the number of respiratory tract infections, and cases of asthma and wheezing spiralling. There's been a spurt in cases of chronic bronchitis and depression too, say doctors. Infants and the elderly are the worst affected.

"Smog and high levels of pollutants in the air are suffocating, particularly for asthma patients who have hyperactive airways. The risk of asthma attacks goes up due to inflammation of the inner lining of the respiratory tract, caused by particulate matter," said Dr Aroop Basu, head of the department chest medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. He said the hospital is witnessing an increased number of patients, particularly the elderly, with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

"Wheezing, dry cough and difficulty in breathing are the most common health problems such weather conditions pose to the elderly. We are getting many patients who are not able to walk inside their houses because they have trouble breathing. They are advised to rest and eat healthy," said Basu.

According to Dr Ashok Seth, chairman, cardiovascular sciences at Fortis Escorts Hospital, the risk of heart attacks due to constriction of blood vessels and reduced oxygenation increases in winter, particularly in the presence of smog. "Such patients are advised to take regular medication and limit outdoor activities," he said.

Headaches, mood swings and depression are some other ailments caused by high pollution levels and a dip in temperature, says Dr Sameer Malhotra, head of the department of mental health and behavioural sciences, Max hospital, Saket. As smog decreases the lungs' working capacity, even healthy adults are complaining of tiredness. According to Dr Anoop Misra, director and head, department of diabetes and metabolic diseases at Fortis hospitals, weak lung function also increases the risk of viral infections like flu. "Flu and pneumonia vaccination is a must for the elderly ," he said.



New Delhi: (From : http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/thick-blanket-of-smog-engulfs-delhi-as-temperatures-continue-to-dip-287883)

A thick blanket of smog (a combination of smoke and fog) enveloped Delhi this morning. Over the last four days, the national capital has been witnessing a thick fog cover, perhaps indicating the onset of winter.

The smog has been caused due to rise in dust particles because of the pollution caused by the vehicles that are plying on the road and the ongoing construction activities in various parts of the city. This particulate matter remains suspended in the air because of lack of wind.

The smog cover has made life difficult for motorists as the visibility is considerably reduced on the roads.

On Friday too, Delhiites saw a foggy morning with a slight chill in the air. The minimum temperature yesterday settled a notch above the season's average at 15.9 degrees Celsius.

Effects of Smog

(From : http://library.thinkquest.org/26026/Environmental_Problems/smog_-_effects.html)


When an area becomes covered in smog, the people feel the effects immediately.  Unlike other problems, which may be harder to understand and visualize, smog creates immediate problems that everyone will experience.

Smog creates many harmful health effects.  It can cause anything from minor pain to deadly diseases such as lung cancer.  Smog slowly ruins people's lungs to an extent as great as that of cigarettes.

The human body has difficulty defending itself against the harms of smog.  Smog can irritate and inflame pulmonary membranes, causing chest pains, coughing, and throat irritation.  Other illnesses such as colds and pneumonia can also be brought on by exposure to smog.

People with asthma problems are under an even greater threat.  Even minor exposure to smog may cause these people to get asthma attacks.

Mexico City has the world's worst levels of smog.  As a result, children and the elderly are advised not to live in the city.  The heavy smog levels have had serious health effects in the city, though many poorer people who need city jobs have to live there and suffer from the smog.

Smog is not only a city problem.  As smog levels increase, winds are carrying smog away from urban areas and harming people and ecosystems far away.

Agriculture is also hurt by smog.  Soybeans, wheat, tomatoes, peanuts, lettuce, and cotton are all subject to infection when exposed to smog.



GTA Clean Air Council

(From : http://www.clarington.net/htdocs/doc-cleanair_health-eff.html)

Health Effects of Smog

Smog affects human health, the environment, wildlife, building materials and textiles. Seniors, children, pregnant women, people with heart and lung problems, those with asthma, smokers, people who exercise outdoors and those with allergies are at greatest risk from smog.


If you are a SENIOR, smog can:

 Aggravate your asthma, emphysema or chronic bronchitis symptoms
 Decrease your lung’s working capacity and make you more tired
 Increase your risk of getting sick by reducing your system’s ability to fight infections

I have a CHILD. How will smog affect my child’s health?

Children are more susceptible to respiratory effects of smog such as wheezing and coughing
 Because children breathe more and faster than adults, more harmful chemicals can enter your child’s lungs
 More smog will enter your child’s lungs since children often breathe through their mouth rather than their nose. Unlike the mouth, the nose has a natural filtering system which reduced the amount of harmful chemicals
 Children are more susceptible since they spend more time outdoors
 Smog may make your child more susceptible to infection by reducing the ability of the child’s respiratory system to fight-off infection. Even without smog, children are more susceptible to infection
 Symptoms of asthma and allergies can be aggravated by smog

What if I have a HEART or LUNG condition? How will smog affect my health?

 Smog may worsen your asthma, emphysema or chronic bronchitis symptoms
 Your lung’s working capacity may be reduced making you more tired and your breathing more difficult
 Your respiratory system’s ability to fight infection may be reduced making you more susceptible to infection





This is not a research done by me, however what I have collected while browsing several websites on my search for SMOG, so here it is in a single page making it easier for you to go through.