Pollution, the silent killer in metros; 35 per cent children in India have poor lung capacity

By NewsGram Staff Writer

Children are the future of a nation. They hold its virtue and fortune. However according to a recent survey, around 35 per cent of India's school going children below 13 years of age are victims of different types of lung disorders due to air pollution.

A misery of metros

Delhi stands tall at the top rank of a nation-wide survey titled Breathe Blue'15. According to it, 21 per cent of children in the national capital were found to have 'poor' lung capacity while another 19% had 'bad' capacity. A Lung Health Screening Test (LHST) conducted by different schools in Delhi has corroborated the reports.

The survey included 2,000 school students between the age of 8-14, out of which a huge amount of children were found to be suffering from major lung diseases like Bronchitis.

Experts' opinion

According to Dr Preetaish Kaul, a representative of HEAL Foundation based in Delhi, such kinds of lung screening tests determine the amount of air lung can hold, how fast lungs can make the inflow and outflow of oxygen and remove carbon dioxide out from the body.

The tests can also find out if there is any lung disease and measures the severity of lung disorder. Poor LHST means compromised lung function and high possibilities of contracting pulmonary diseases.

Another expert said, "While rising air pollution in the country poses a serious health risks for all, it is more worrisome for children as they are yet in their growth years with vital organs of the body physiologically not mature enough to deal with it."

Citizen responsibility?

A similar research termed CLAIM (Clean Air India Movement), dedicated to Citizens' Awareness and Attitude Survey suggests that most people think that it is the responsibility of the government to clean the air as they can't do anything about it.

This survey proved that in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata only 15, 24, 27 and 9 per cent people admitted that they, as a citizen, are also responsible for current emerging scenarios. It has been found at more than 46 per cent bikers, 63 per cent non-ac car drivers and 96 per cent ac car drivers do not turn off their engines due to laziness or luxury.

The growing number of lung diseases should be highlighted at a national level. Awareness campaigns and programs have be carried by the government to turn down the amount of gasses released in the environment. The future of the nation depends on it.