Toxic air crisis in Delhi: Loss equivalent to 25-30 cigarettes
India’s capital Delhi is currently battling a serious air pollution crisis and it would not be an exaggeration to say that breathing the city air is equivalent to smoking 25-30 cigarettes in terms of the damage it does to your body.
For the third consecutive day, Delhi’s air quality remained in the “severe” zone, with the overall air quality index (AQI) recorded at a worrying 413. This hazardous air quality is causing a wave of health problems among the residents of Delhi, which is being affected. People of all ages, from the unborn to the elderly.
Dr Arvind Kumar, senior pulmonologist at Medanta Hospital, highlights how air toxins are also affecting unborn babies. When a pregnant mother breathes toxic air, these harmful pollutants enter her bloodstream and are passed through the placenta to the developing fetus. The consequences are serious, with possible premature delivery and other health complications.
Moreover, severe air quality does not spare even newborn babies. From their very first breath, they breathe in the same amount of polluted air, which is equivalent to smoking 25-30 cigarettes a day in their lives. This puts excessive pressure on their delicate organs, causing many respiratory problems.
The situation is so serious that visibility has reduced due to dense smog, making Delhi feel like a suffocating chamber. Typical AQI values for different locations in the city are surprisingly high, all falling in the “severe” category.
It is important to understand that an AQI between zero and 50 is considered good, while anything between 401 and 500 is classified as “severe.” Now is the time to tackle this crisis and protect the health of Delhi’s residents, especially the most vulnerable.
