Rise in Respiratory related problems

Team Udayavani, Dec 6, 2018, 5:18 PM IST

Mangaluru: A study done by the transport department on the rise of air pollution in the city has revealed shocking information on the serious adverse effect it is having on the people.

A study conducted by Mangaluru Regional Transport Office (RTO) in association with Anti-Pollution Drive institution has revealed that ‘the rise in air pollution is one of the chief factors behind the deteriorating health condition that is haunting the people of the city.’ In accordance to RTO’s direction, a team was created by Anti-Pollution Drive institution, which selected people working daily outside the RTO office and tested their lungs in three phases. In the first phase the test was done on traffic police, in the second phase it was on the auto rickshaw drivers and finally on the roadside vendors. The report of the study revealed that most of the people working outside the office were affected by the emissions of the vehicles and other pollutions and therefore were suffering from lung-respiratory problems.

Roadside vendors test

The institution created a team and conducted a study on air pollution due to industries, vehicles and other reasons and its adverse effect on the people. For the study, roadside vendors from various locations in the city were subjected to the Pulmonary Function Test.

Based on that study, a report revealed that 61 people of the tested 174 people were suffering some respiratory problem. In other words close to 35% of the people are suffering from lung problems. Prior to this, lung test on rickshaw drivers revealed that 19% of the auto rickshaw drivers had lung problems.

Doctors and technicians in the team

In order to ascertain the extent of the adverse effect of air pollution on the health of the people, the team members of the anti pollution drive institution along with doctors and technicians approached people working outside the office and handed them application forms to fill it up with relevant information. The form had 8 questions including if the person was a smoker or not. Later, Pulmonary Function Test was done on them. The doctors inspected the reports and gave the results.

61 do the 174 applicants have lung problem

Close to 215 people were subjected to the test by the team. Of them, since there were a few mistakes in testing the people, altogether 174 people were subjected to the lung test properly. According to the report, lung problem was detected in 61 people. What is surprising is that of them 61 people, 51 don’t have any form of bad habits and yet are suffering due to the daily pollution that they face.

Increase in health problems

“Health problems are increasing due to the traffic density and other pollutions. In this backdrop, we joined hands with the RTO and conducted a study. In the test we checked on how the lungs functioned. The report was inspected by Dr Irfan who informed about the problem,” said Abdulla A Rehman, Founder, Anti Pollution Drive Institution.

More smoke; Action against vehicles

“Action will be taken against vehicles that move in the city and spew out more smoke than the accepted standards. The public needs to join hands with us to control air pollution,” said Jhon Misquith, Senior Motor Vehicle Inspector and in-charge Assistant Road Transport Officer

Article by Prajnya Shetty translated into English by Aaron Dmello