Delhi and Mumbai among World’s Most Polluted: How Will Air Pollution Affect Our Mental and Physical Health?

India woke up to some bad news today, with fourteen of its cities topping WHO’s chart of the most polluted cities in the world. Two of the country’s biggest cities – capital Delhi and financial capital Mumbai – topped the list as the most polluted and fourth-most polluted in the world. Delhi has been in the news for a good part of the year gone by for its waning air quality. Mumbai, on the other hand, has leapt from its 5th position in 2016 to a more dishonourable 4th place in WHO’s list. This doesn’t bode well for Delhities and Mumbaikars who may be understandably upset about the implications of the pollution levels on their health.

In the recent years, air pollution and its effects on human health have been subjects of intense study. Air borne particulate matter released by factories, vehicles, agricultural and household activities, mining operations, etc. can have severe short-term and long-term effect on our health. It includes poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide, volatile compounds, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide. A study says that even a two-hour exposure to these pollutants can have adverse effects on human health.

According to WHO, 9 out of 10 people in our planet breathe this deadly cocktail of pollutants every day. Every year 7 million people die of complications caused by air pollution such as pneumonia, stroke, ischaemic heart diseases, COPD and lung cancer. The most affect among them are children under the age of five, women working in rudimentary kitchens and outdoor workers such as vendors and traffic policemen. Here are some of the physical and mental effects of air pollution.

Cardiovascular Health

Exposure to ambient air pollution and particulate matter have far-reaching effects on human cardiovascular health. Pollution is, in fact, considered an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Even short term exposure to particulate matter can trigger acute cardiovascular events and long term exposure can even reduce life expectance by a few years. Inhaling the particular matter adversely affects heart rate, blood pressure, vascular health and blood coagulability. Pollution also increases the progression of atherosclerosis or hardening of the blood vessels.

Respiratory Health

Perhaps the direct casualty of air pollution is the respiratory system. Pollution contributes to the global burden of respiratory illnesses such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia and also tuberculosis. While cigarette smoking is considered the most important cause of lung cancer, it’s not the only one. Risk factors such as environmental and occupational exposure to pollutants. Limited studies have also studied the relationship between air pollution and respiratory infections. The children, the elderly and those suffering from chronic illnesses are ones who are most vulnerable to these risks.

Reproductive Health

Infertility is on the rise and air pollution could be a possible cause. Apart from the cardiovascular and respiratory system, pollution is also known to affect the reproductive functions of human beings, especially those related to pregnancy outcomes. Studies suggests that exposure to air pollution is related to lower birth weight in infants, retardation of foetal growth, prematurity, infant death and decreased male and female fertility.

Neural Health

The human nervous system stands to lose a whole lot due to air pollution Exposure to ambient air pollution has been associated with diseases affecting the central nervous system. This increases the risk of stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and neurodevelopmental disorders. Evidence also suggests that air pollution can cause inflammation of the central nervous system, oxidative stress, cerebrovascular dysfunction and alterations in the blood-brain barried, which contributes to more problems of the central nervous system.

Digestive Health

There is tangible evidence to support the fact that air pollution may also impair digestive health. Air pollution is suspected to have cause the spike in inflammatory bowel diseases globally. Airborne particulate matter ingested through contaminated food can alter the good bacteria in the stomach, leading to a variety of health problems. Air pollutants can also harm liver health by inducing liver toxicity and causing inflammation and staetosis in the organ.

Immune Health

Airborne pollution also affects the immune system profoundly. Volatile gases such as ozone, benzene; liquid droplets of sulphuric acid and nitrogen oxide; and particulate matter in diesel exhaust and aromatic hydrocarbons can either cause overactive immune responses or suppression of the immune system. Animal studies have concluded that pollution also leads to the rise in autoimmune diseases that affects organs like the kidneys and lungs.

Skin Health

Skin, the largest organ on the human body, is its fine line of defence against pollution. Not surprisingly, it also the first to get affected by toxic air pollutants. The amount of pollutants absorbed by the skin can be compared to our respiratory intake. Research has tied traffic-related air pollutants to skin ageing and pigmentation. In theory, air pollutants when absorbed by the skin can also cause damage to the internal organs.

Eye, Nose and Throat Health

Inhaling polluted air and being exposure to airborne particulate matter can directly cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. Eyes, though neglected, are one of the most vulnerable organs to the adverse effects of air pollution. Problems like dry eye syndrome, irritation, redness and even blinding can be seen in people exposed to air pollutants.

Mental Health

Air pollution also ends up impacting the mental health, leading to aggravated psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety, mood, cognition and behaviour. It has been observed that admissions to psychiatric hospitals and emergency calls to mental health helplines increase when the air pollution levels go up. Numerous toxic pollutants interfere with the development and functioning of the nervous system. Behavioural changes such as increased aggression and antisocial behaviour are noticed in individuals exposed to air pollution for a long time. Recent studies have also shown that pollution could be responsible for causing hyperactivity, criminal and age-inappropriate behaviours in people.

Air pollution impacts every aspect of human health. With the rising pollution levels, we can expect some of these health problems to worsen in the coming days. Preventive measures like using gas masks, avoiding strenuous activities outdoors and reducing exposure to polluted area may work at an individual level. At the community level, however, the government should focus on building safer and affordable transportation systems, funding energy-efficient and greener technology and improving domestic industry and municipal waste management systems.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 02, 2018 06:07 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).