Special Correspondent
A study shows that air pollution from vehicle emission has reduced while the contribution from tobacco smoke has gone up to 8 p.c.
Bangalore: Smokers may be harming more than their own health. A recent study conducted in the city shows tobacco smoke may be contributing up to 7.9 per cent to atmospheric pollution. It was about 6 per cent a decade ago, the study says.
The study was conducted by H. Paramesh, a Director of Lakeside Medical Centre and Chairman, Technical Advisory Committee of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB). The study, which used data compiled over the past few years, showed that though the number of vehicles in the city has steadily increased, air pollution from vehicular emissions has actually come down.
Though still above safe levels, air pollution from vehicle exhausts has come down because of measures such as banning heavy vehicles from the central business district and introduction of one-ways. Stringent emission checks on vehicles may have also contributed to this factor along with reduced emission levels made mandatory for new models of cars. Many new models even better these levels.
According to the KSPCB, concentration of sulphur dioxide in the air has come down to one fourth of the level prevailing in 1999, which should be considered significant. The amount of "respirable suspended particles" and "total suspended particles" in the air have also come down by 15 per cent to 22 per cent while only the percentage of oxides of nitrogen has gone up from 31 units to 54 units.
Tobacco smoke has negated the efforts to make the air cleaner, according to the study. There were indications that the number of smokers had increased in the younger age group despite statutory warnings on cigarette packets and intensive anti-smoking campaigns. The effect can be serious in the case of unborn children of parents who may be smokers or pregnant women regularly exposed to tobacco smoke. Unlike vehicle emissions, which are outdoors, tobacco smoke may be regularly present indoors.
Air pollution has resulted in the increase of ailments related to respiratory infections such as bronchitis, lung diseases, acute respiratory distress syndrome and respiratory allergies, including attacks of severe asthma. Increased air pollution has also caused cases of "middle ear infections" leading to hearing impairment in various degrees. Statistics collated from city hospitals show that an increase in sudden infant deaths, occurring within a few hours of birth, may be related to air pollution.
The study shows that respiratory disease related to air pollution or tobacco smoke is relatively lower among the highest income groups who have become aware of the risks of smoking. It is higher among the lower income groups, partly because of the fact they use firewood or dried dung for cooking and their houses lack proper ventilation for the smoke to escape.
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