Pollution Stunting Child Lung Growth and Learning: Dr Soumya Swaminathan
Dr Soumya Swaminathan warns that North India's air pollution is stunting lung growth and harming learning capacity in children.
Former World Health Organization (WHO) Chief Scientist and Chairperson of the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, has issued a stark warning regarding the escalating pollution levels in North India. She highlighted that the deteriorating air quality is posing severe health risks, with infants and children being the most vulnerable victims of this environmental crisis.
A Threat to Developing Organs
According to Dr Swaminathan, the biological vulnerability of children makes the current pollution levels particularly dangerous. Because their lungs, hearts, blood vessels, and brains are still in the process of developing, they are more susceptible to the toxins present in the air.
She specifically noted that air pollution is stunting lung development and negatively affecting the learning capacity of children, creating long-term health and cognitive challenges.
The Cigarette Comparison
To illustrate the severity of the situation, Dr Swaminathan provided a chilling comparison regarding particulate matter (PM). She stated that breathing air with a PM concentration of 22 micrograms per cubic metre over a 24-hour period is equivalent to smoking one cigarette.
Delhi Under a Blanket of Smog
These warnings coincide with a sharp decline in air quality across the national capital. On Thursday, Delhi's air quality remained in the 'poor' category. Data from the government's AQI dashboard showed a reading of 299 at 10:31 am, while the private platform IQAir recorded an AQI of 242 at 9:30 am.
Pollution levels remained elevated across various parts of the city, with specific readings including:
- Patparganj: 298
- ITO: 280
- Defence Colony: 261
- Anand Vihar and Akshardham: 237 each
- Rohini: 226
- Shahdara: 225
- Deoli: 203
Government Response and GRAP Implementation
In response to the deteriorating conditions, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invoked Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the Delhi-NCR region with immediate effect.
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change reported a significant jump in the daily average AQI, which rose from 179 on October 20 to 244 by 2 pm on October 21. This spike, combined with forecasts from the India Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, suggests that the air quality is likely to remain in the 'poor' category for the foreseeable future.
Regional Impact Beyond Delhi
The pollution crisis is not limited to the capital. In Lucknow, authorities have begun spraying water on major roads to suppress dust and pollutants. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded an AQI of 223 in the city's Lalbagh area, which also falls within the 'poor' category.
Note: According to CPCB classifications, an AQI between 201 and 300 is 'poor', while 301 to 400 is classified as 'very poor'.