Going by the AQI right now, how many people would you think will have lung disease in years to come?
At this level of pollution, every resident of Delhi is developing some degree of lung damage. Those with pre-existing disease or sensitivity are suffering more, but no one is immune. I do want to point out one thing we forget-for many people, especially women, without access to clean fuel, indoor air pollution has always been around and to an even higher degree. We should not forget them while speaking of outdoor air pollution that affects us. What will be the long-term or short-term health consequences?
The possible effects of air pollution range across the full alphabet of medicine – from asthma to zoster. The ones that concern me most in the short term are asthma, hypertension, respiratory infection, elevated risk of strokes and heart attacks. In the long term, I worry about COPD , diabetes, possible acceleration of dementia and cancer, among others.
Are air purifiers the answer?
Air purifiers are the band-aid solution. Yes, they will help partially to a part of the population, but they can’t be the full solution. I do think that those who can afford them should invest in them at homes and workplaces. The government should look into providing them for high-risk populations who cannot afford them. Cost-effectiveness is unclear and needs more research.
There’s nothing close to what we are going through, but how do other countries manage pollution?
China went through a similar phase for Beijing. Strict controls on emission, emphasis on sustainable transport systems, coordinated measures across the larger Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, joint emergency responses, and information sharing along with public engagement, significantly improved the air quality in this broader region. Today Beijing has much cleaner air than Delhi. So it can be done.
