Health and Me

Ishita Roy

Should Kids “Learn to Tolerate” Delhi-NCR Pollution? Doctor Addresses Parents’ Fears About Air Purifiers and Immunity

Delhi continues to choke, and again wakes up to toxic air on Friday, as the Air Quality Index (AQI) stayed in 'severe' category. As of 8am, the Anand Vihar monitoring station recorded an AQI of 418 as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). As of 7am, as per aqi.in, Delhi's average AQI was recorded at 455. As of mid-day, around 10am, the AQI was recorded at 303, which is equivalent to smoking 10.3 cigarettes noted aqi.in. 

Parents too are now concerned about their children's health. A Delhi resident Akshat Verma, posted on his LinkedIn that his three-year-old son now needs to understand the term AQI. He writes: "One week he’s learning how to hold a pencil... next week he’s learning why he can’t go to school because the air is ‘too poisonous'."

Many parents echo the feeling, and many have raised questions too, including if at all an air purifier helps a child as the moment the child steps out, he will be breathing polluted air. Addressing all the questions, Dr Shreya Dubey, who is a leading pediatrician and newborn specialist uploaded a video on her Instagram @anantakidsofficial. 

"If we have to stay in Delhi-NCR, then the child should have the habit to tolerate air pollution". "Doctor, if we use air purifier, won't the child's immunity become weak?" These are some of the questions the doctor is asked repeatedly by parents. 

Her answer to all these questions is simple: "Air toxicity has nothing to do with immunity."

The doctor explains that if someone is smoking about 30 cigarettes a day, that does not make his immunity better than the one who smokes just 5 cigarettes in a day. The doctor says that exposure to toxic pollutants has no relation with tolerance or immunity building, in fact, longer exposure can cause more damage. 

<h2>How Can You Protect Your Child Against Delhi's Toxic Air?</h2>

The doctor suggests to use air purifier for at least 8 to 10 hours at night so the child's lungs can recuperate. She also suggests that for those who cannot afford an air purifier, they can keep air purifying plants at home. In fact, NASA has compiled a list of indoor plants that can improve indoor air quality. The list includes:

<ul><li>Spider Plant, that can remove formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene</li><li>Snake Plant, that can remove formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, toluene, and nitrogen oxides</li><li>Peace Lily, that can remove formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, xylene, and ammonia</li><li>Aloe Vera, that can remove formaldehyde and benzene</li><li>Boston Fern, that can remove formaldehyde and xylene</li></ul>

The doctor also suggests other alternative for an air purifier, which includes wearable purifier for indoor pollution, charcoal bags in child's room, and DIY fan filter boxes. 

<h2>What Can Exposure To Pollution Do To You?</h2>

Chronic pollution exposure aggravates oxidative stress and systemic inflammation. This means, with every breath you take, you inhale a toxic swamp.

As per Pusan National University, long term air pollution exposure actually triggers allergic immune responses in the lungs. Furthermore, a 2022 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health also shows the negative impact on immune system with alarming and harmful air quality.

As per another 2000 study, published by the British Society for Immunology, people living in areas with higher pollution levels show measurably different immune responses than those in cleaner environment.

Air pollution contains toxins like particulate matter, ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. It also includes hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), such as lead, mercury, asbestos, benzene, and other volatile organic compounds. When one breathes this toxic and poisonous air the respiratory system bears the initial brunt of it. The pollutants then damage the delicate tissues lining your airways, and disrupts the barrier that normally prevents harmful substances from entering your body. When this first line of defense is compromised, pathogens find it easier to established infections.

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Delhi continues to choke, and again wakes up to toxic air on Friday, as the Air Quality Index (AQI) stayed in 'severe' category. As of 8am, the Anand Vihar monitoring station recorded an AQI of 418 as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). As of 7am, as per aqi.in, Delhi's average AQI was recorded at 455. As of mid-day, around 10am, the AQI was recorded at 303, which is equivalent to smoking 10.3 cigarettes noted aqi.in. Parents too are now concerned about their children's health. A Delhi resident Akshat Verma, posted on his LinkedIn that his three-year-old son now needs to understand the term AQI. He writes: "One week he’s learning how to hold a pencil... next week he’s learning why he can’t go to school because the air is ‘too poisonous'."Many parents echo the feeling, and many have raised questions too, including if at all an air purifier helps a child as the moment the child steps out, he will be breathing polluted air. Addressing all the questions, Dr Shreya Dubey, who is a leading pediatrician and newborn specialist uploaded a video on her Instagram @anantakidsofficial. "If we have to stay in Delhi-NCR, then the child should have the habit to tolerate air pollution". "Doctor, if we use air purifier, won't the child's immunity become weak?" These are some of the questions the doctor is asked repeatedly by parents. Her answer to all these questions is simple: "Air toxicity has nothing to do with immunity."The doctor explains that if someone is smoking about 30 cigarettes a day, that does not make his immunity better than the one who smokes just 5 cigarettes in a day. The doctor says that exposure to toxic pollutants has no relation with tolerance or immunity building, in fact, longer exposure can cause more damage. How Can You Protect Your Child Against Delhi's Toxic Air?The doctor suggests to use air purifier for at least 8 to 10 hours at night so the child's lungs can recuperate. She also suggests that for those who cannot afford an air purifier, they can keep air purifying plants at home. In fact, NASA has compiled a list of indoor plants that can improve indoor air quality. The list includes:Spider Plant, that can remove formaldehyde, xylene, and tolueneSnake Plant, that can remove formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, toluene, and nitrogen oxidesPeace Lily, that can remove formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, xylene, and ammoniaAloe Vera, that can remove formaldehyde and benzeneBoston Fern, that can remove formaldehyde and xyleneThe doctor also suggests other alternative for an air purifier, which includes wearable purifier for indoor pollution, charcoal bags in child's room, and DIY fan filter boxes. What Can Exposure To Pollution Do To You?        View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Dr Shreya Dubey (@anantakidsofficial)]]>Chronic pollution exposure aggravates oxidative stress and systemic inflammation. This means, with every breath you take, you inhale a toxic swamp.As per Pusan National University, long term air pollution exposure actually triggers allergic immune responses in the lungs. Furthermore, a 2022 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health also shows the negative impact on immune system with alarming and harmful air quality.As per another 2000 study, published by the British Society for Immunology, people living in areas with higher pollution levels show measurably different immune responses than those in cleaner environment.Air pollution contains toxins like particulate matter, ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. It also includes hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), such as lead, mercury, asbestos, benzene, and other volatile organic compounds. When one breathes this toxic and poisonous air the respiratory system bears the initial brunt of it. The pollutants then damage the delicate tissues lining your airways, and disrupts the barrier that normally prevents harmful substances from entering your body. When this first line of defense is compromised, pathogens find it easier to established infections.