Health and Me

Ishita Roy

Air Pollution Is The Single Largest Health Risk In Delhi, Finds Study

NSUI volunteers dressed as Santa Claus with gas masks (PTI)

Delhi's <span>air pollution</span> continues to remain in the 'severe' category, and an analysis of Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 found that in Delhi, 15% of all deaths are due to the air pollution. The study suggests that air pollution is city's single largest health risk. The deaths rose from 15,786 in 2018 to 17,188 in 2023. 

<h2>Are Men Breathing In More Pollution?</h2>

Another study published in Scientific Reports, a five-year study titled Respiratory Deposition of Particulate Matter in Delhi: A Five-Year Assessment of Exposure Patterns and Health Risks tracked how particulate matter settles inside the respiratory system and found that men's exposure can be up to 1.4 times higher, especially while walking or commuting. The study noted that men on average spend more time outdoors while working, commuting, or walking in traffic-heavy areas. This leads to an increase in exposure.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/barry-manilow-is-diagnosed-with-lung-cancer-at-82-article-153333840" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Barry Manilow Is Diagnosed With Lung Cancer At 82</a>

Another reason is physiological, men have larger lung volumes, which means they inhale a greater volume of air with every breath. While women breathe slightly faster, the overall dose of pollution that settles in lungs tends to be higher in men because of how much air they inhale at once, and how long they stay outdoors. 

While sitting, men inhale 1.5 times higher than women when it comes to PM2.5, and while walking, they absorb 1.2 times more than women. The same pattern is seen in PM10, while sitting, men record 1.34 times higher, and while walking, they inhale 1.15 times higher. 

Delhi's AQI Today: On Tuesday, December 23, Delhi's AQI stood at 408 which is under the 'severe' category, around 5.30 am.

Read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/british-man-compares-breathing-in-delhi-to-smoking-18-cigarettes-article-153329567" data-type="tilCustomLink">British Man Compares Breathing In Delhi To Smoking 18 Cigarettes</a> 

<h2>Clean Air Is A Basic Right, Not A Luxury</h2>

This is happening in Delhi as we come closer to the festive time of Christmas. To draw attention to the continuously worsening AQI, National Students' Union of India (NSUI) representatives dressed as Santa Clause with gas masks. The NSUI volunteers walked in Santa Claus costumes, wearing gas masks to convey the message about Delhi's deteriorating air quality and growing public health emergency, and distributed face masks, candies, as well as handwritten notes that explained what exposure to polluted air can do to one's health. The NSUI representative also led an awareness walk and one of the office bearers said, "Santa represents joy, gifts and care for children. When even Santa needs a gas mask to survive in Delhi, it forces people to think about what kind of air our children are breathing."

“People already know the air is bad, but they have started accepting it as normal. Our effort is to remind everyone that this should not be normal," said another volunteer. 

As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), here is how you can know what your AQI stands for

<ul><li>0 to 50: Good</li><li>51 to 100: Satisfactory</li><li>101 to 200: Moderate</li><li>201 to 300: Poor</li><li>301 to 400: Very Poor</li><li>401 to 500: Severe</li></ul>

<a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/aqi-explained-its-not-temperature-as-delhi-cm-says-heres-what-the-air-quality-index-really-means-article-153299496" data-type="tilCustomLink">AQI </a> stands for Air Quality Index, and it is a tool used for communicating outdoor air quality and health. The AQI includes six-color coded categories, each of which corresponds to a range of index values. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern.

Air quality is made of dust and small particles like PM2.5 and PM10, along with gases like nitrogen dioxide from car exhaust, sulphur dioxide from factories, and carbon monoxide from vehicles. The levels are measured through specialized machines. In India, the standard of the machines are carried out by the CPCB.

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Delhi's air pollution continues to remain in the 'severe' category, and an analysis of Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 found that in Delhi, 15% of all deaths are due to the air pollution. The study suggests that air pollution is city's single largest health risk. The deaths rose from 15,786 in 2018 to 17,188 in 2023. Are Men Breathing In More Pollution?Another study published in Scientific Reports, a five-year study titled Respiratory Deposition of Particulate Matter in Delhi: A Five-Year Assessment of Exposure Patterns and Health Risks tracked how particulate matter settles inside the respiratory system and found that men's exposure can be up to 1.4 times higher, especially while walking or commuting. The study noted that men on average spend more time outdoors while working, commuting, or walking in traffic-heavy areas. This leads to an increase in exposure.Also Read: Barry Manilow Is Diagnosed With Lung Cancer At 82 Another reason is physiological, men have larger lung volumes, which means they inhale a greater volume of air with every breath. While women breathe slightly faster, the overall dose of pollution that settles in lungs tends to be higher in men because of how much air they inhale at once, and how long they stay outdoors. While sitting, men inhale 1.5 times higher than women when it comes to PM2.5, and while walking, they absorb 1.2 times more than women. The same pattern is seen in PM10, while sitting, men record 1.34 times higher, and while walking, they inhale 1.15 times higher. Delhi's AQI Today: On Tuesday, December 23, Delhi's AQI stood at 408 which is under the 'severe' category, around 5.30 am.Read: British Man Compares Breathing In Delhi To Smoking 18 Cigarettes Clean Air Is A Basic Right, Not A Luxury  This is happening in Delhi as we come closer to the festive time of Christmas. To draw attention to the continuously worsening AQI, National Students' Union of India (NSUI) representatives dressed as Santa Clause with gas masks. The NSUI volunteers walked in Santa Claus costumes, wearing gas masks to convey the message about Delhi's deteriorating air quality and growing public health emergency, and distributed face masks, candies, as well as handwritten notes that explained what exposure to polluted air can do to one's health. The NSUI representative also led an awareness walk and one of the office bearers said, "Santa represents joy, gifts and care for children. When even Santa needs a gas mask to survive in Delhi, it forces people to think about what kind of air our children are breathing."“People already know the air is bad, but they have started accepting it as normal. Our effort is to remind everyone that this should not be normal," said another volunteer. How To Read AQI?As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), here is how you can know what your AQI stands for0 to 50: Good51 to 100: Satisfactory101 to 200: Moderate201 to 300: Poor301 to 400: Very Poor401 to 500: SevereAQI  stands for Air Quality Index, and it is a tool used for communicating outdoor air quality and health. The AQI includes six-color coded categories, each of which corresponds to a range of index values. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern.Air quality is made of dust and small particles like PM2.5 and PM10, along with gases like nitrogen dioxide from car exhaust, sulphur dioxide from factories, and carbon monoxide from vehicles. The levels are measured through specialized machines. In India, the standard of the machines are carried out by the CPCB.