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Experts in the field of ‘air pollution and health’ have sounded a stark warning, revealing that the effects of air pollution extend far beyond respiratory issues, affecting organs throughout the body, yet a startling 80% of medical professionals remain unaware of its full extent.
Dr. Rajiv Khurana, founder of the Lung Care Foundation, emphasized that the repercussions of air pollution span from skin allergies to debilitating lung diseases, even contributing to lifestyle disorders such as diabetes and increasing the risk of brain strokes.
“What’s alarming is that unborn babies are also at risk, with air pollution linked to several congenital diseases,” Dr. Khurana asserted, underscoring the pervasive threat.
Highlighting a concerning lack of awareness among medical practitioners, Dr. Khurana revealed that an assessment by their organization indicated an astounding 80% of medical professionals were unaware of the comprehensive impact of air pollution on the human body.
A.P. Maheshwari, former director general of the Central Reserve Police Force, stressed the paramount significance of acknowledging air pollution’s role in various ailments. “We breathe approximately 25,000 times a day. While one can survive without water for three days and without food for three weeks, three minutes without proper breathing is life-threatening,” Maheshwari cautioned, emphasizing the critical nature of the issue.
The experts urged for heightened awareness and community efforts to address this pressing concern. They proposed initiating awareness campaigns within immediate neighborhoods as a starting point, suggesting that individuals reach out to people within a 20-50 meter radius of their homes to propagate understanding about the far-reaching consequences of air pollution.
The call for action and awareness highlights the urgent need to broaden understanding about air pollution’s impact, transcending respiratory health to encompass a spectrum of serious health implications affecting individuals at every stage of life.
