Start pollution battle from home, say docs
Mumbai: Its not just construction dust and smoke-spewing vehicles that are to blame for damaging your respiratory tract. Far more innocuous-looking things right inside your house, like the fancy upholstery and the beautiful ceramic statue that attract a lot of dust, may be as much to blame for your frequent bouts of cough and cold as the construction dust swirling in your neighbourhood.
But a few simple measures and adjustments can help you keep respiratory ailments at bay, say city doctors. People should realise that particulate matter is extremely harmful. Those living in areas where there is a lot of construction activity should make use of meshwork on their windows to filter the particulate matter or simply keep their windows closed, Pramod Niphadkar, head of the Asthma and Bronchitis Association of India, said.
Construction sites in countries like Singapore were completely covered in cloth to prevent dust from getting into the air, he said, adding Mumbai too should enforce such regulations.
Cover your nose with a mask or handkerchief even if youre just walking through an area with a lot of dust (like where a road is being dug up), he said.
Air-conditioners are another problem area. The vents should be cleaned regularly as dust particles or pigeon droppings collecting there can spread through the entire house or office; curtains and statues should also be dusted to keep ailments at bay.
Your kitchen, for instance, needs to be properly ventilated. People renovate their homes and close down windows very often. This does not let the polluted air escape outside and can increase respiratory problems, Amita Athavale of the Environment Pollution Research Centre said on Wednesday. The centre is attached to the civic-run KEM Hospital and works on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporations environment status report.
Children should begin to build their lung capacity at a young age, Athavale felt, so they could combat pollutants. Children should be trained to perform breathing exercises. Pranayam, for instance, has been scientifically proven to improve lung capacity, she added.
Drinking plenty of water to flush out pollutants and consuming anti-oxidants (present in green vegetables and fruits) also help the body fight pollutants.
PLACES UNDER THE SCANNER
PLACES UNDER THE SCANNER
The BMC survey was done in five city areas BHAKTI PARK, WADALA 12.1% residents had cough. 25.1% residents had headache and irritation in the eyes. 11.7% residents complained of breathlessness. 10% residents had a cold. R M BHATT SCHOOL, PAREL 8.5% of the 718 students were found to have some respiratory ailment or the other.
VERSOVA AND COLABA SEWERAGE PLANTS 9.47% of the 380 workers in the survey had restrictive lung disorder. 1.58% more had an obstructive airway disease. BHANDUP CHLORINATION PLANT
This was the only place where no significant incidence of respiratory ailments could be found.