11 minutes agoAuthor: Shashank Shukla
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India The period from October to March is not only the time of winter and festivals, but during this time many states of North India are badly affected by smog and air pollution. Crackers are burst across the country on Diwali, Christmas and New Year. After Diwali, some farmers burn stubble in the fields after paddy harvest, the smoke of which causes air pollution. This pollution is dangerous for asthma or respiratory diseases.
According to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 data, about 46% of the deaths due to asthma worldwide occur in India. Every year 2 lakh people die due to asthma in India.
Also, air pollution is a serious problem for people suffering from Covid-19. In this situation, devices like HEPA and carbon air purifiers can prove to be life-saving for these patients.
Therefore, today in the news of need we will talk about how dangerous the smoke of firecrackers and stubble is for asthma patients. You will also learn that-
- Who should be more careful?
- How does HEPA and carbon air purifier protect against air pollution?
Question- What is the number of asthma sufferers in India?
answer- The number of asthma patients is continuously increasing in India. According to Global Burden of Disease (GBD), more than 3.5 crore people in India are suffering from asthma. This number is highest compared to any other country in the world. Its cases are continuously increasing rapidly among children and elderly.
This problem has become more serious due to construction work and smoke emanating from vehicles in urban areas of India. Even in rural areas, there is an increase in the number of asthma patients due to burning of stubble, use of wood and cow dung cakes in the kitchen and other reasons related to pollution.
Question: For whom is the smoke of firecrackers more dangerous?
answer- The smoke of firecrackers contains harmful elements like nitrogen dioxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide. These poisonous gases reach the lungs while breathing. Along with people suffering from problems like asthma and post Covid, smoke from firecrackers can also harm old people, children and pregnant women.
Smoke from firecrackers is dangerous for children due to their weak immune system. Besides, it is also harmful for the elderly. Due to increasing age their health is already weak. In such a situation, polluted air can harm their lungs and throat. Also, exposure to pollution during pregnancy can hamper the development of the child in the womb.
Question- How does the smoke of firecrackers and stubble harm the body?
answer- The poisonous elements present in the smoke of stubble and firecrackers reach the lungs through the respiratory tract. These poisonous elements harm the lungs. PM2.5 (particulate matter) is found in stubble smoke.
These particles are 2.5 micrometers or smaller. Due to this, people may have problems like difficulty in breathing, chest tightness and cough.
According to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) report, the average age of people living in areas with air pollution is decreasing. People exposed to high levels of air pollution, especially PM2.5 (particulate matter) Life expectancy has decreased by 1.5 to 2 years.
Along with this, an increase in health problems like heart and lungs has been recorded in the people living in such areas. Particulate Matter 2.5 are particles which are thirty times smaller than the thickness of our hair. These particles settle on the inner surface of our lungs. Prolonged exposure to these can cause lung cancer or other serious diseases. Along with this, it weakens our mental health and immune system. Prolonged exposure to PM2.5 can cause diseases like asthma and bronchitis.
Question- What kind of precautions can be taken at home to avoid air pollution?
answer- These measures can be adopted to protect ourselves from increasing air pollution.
- Keep the windows and doors of the house closed so that outside pollution cannot come inside.
- People with asthma should stay indoors when the outdoor air quality index (AQI) is at dangerous levels.
- Do not smoke indoors as it is extremely dangerous for asthma patients.
- Use a humidifier indoors to maintain humidity.
- To increase immunity, consume fresh fruits and green vegetables.
Question- How does HEPA and carbon air purifier work?
answer- High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) and carbon air purifiers are gadgets designed to clean the air. There are many types of gadgets available in the market, which work as air purifiers. However, not all gadgets are equipped with HEPA and carbon filters.
HEPA filters Cigarette filters filter particles as small as 0.3 microns, cigarette smoke, pet fur and dander. Whereas the carbon filter removes odor from the air. In such a situation, this air purifier can prove to be very beneficial for asthma patients. You can also gift this air filter to your close ones. You can buy it in the market or online at very affordable prices.
Question- How dangerous is the level of air pollution in India?
answer- Many cities of India are among the most polluted cities in the world. According to the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) mid-year data, Burnihat city of Meghalaya was found to be the most polluted city in the country in the survey from January 2024 to June 2024. After this, the air quality index of many cities including Faridabad of Haryana, capital Delhi, Gurugram, Bhagalpur of Bihar was found to be dangerously bad. Due to this pollution, respiratory diseases are increasing rapidly among people.
Question- What steps is the government taking to stop the increasing air pollution in India?
answer- In the year 2019, National Clean Air Program (NCAP) was started by the Government of India to control air pollution. In this, work is being done to improve the air quality of 102 non-attainment cities. Such cities have been included in this list, which could not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Index (NAAQS) standards for 5 consecutive years. It also includes 43 smart cities. The government has taken several steps to reduce air pollution. For this, rules have been made for different industries and sectors. Online equipment has been installed for 24×7 monitoring in 17 major polluting areas. Burning of biomass has been banned. However, despite this, stubble is burnt in many states of North India. National Air Quality Index (AQI) has been introduced to measure air quality. Metro and bus are being promoted in public transport. There are many more improvements included in this, let us understand them through graphic-
………………………… Read this news of need also News of need- Pollution has become the enemy of life in Delhi Age is decreasing every year, adopt these measures to avoid it.
According to a study by Lancet, 16% of people around the world die prematurely due to pollution. Talking about the entire country, the report states that the average age of people in India has reduced by about five years due to pollution. Read the full news…
