"Due to pollution, children in countries like Nepal are born with two years less life expectancy"

 "Due to pollution, children in countries like Nepal are born with two years less life expectancy"

The picture of the lungs placed at the gate of the Ministry of Health and Population shows how much air pollution affects the human body. In March last year, the color of the artificial lungs placed in the ministry was removed after 15 days when the lungs turned black.

With the increase in air pollution in Kathmandu Valley, experts urge children, senior citizens and patients not to leave their homes at the same time.

Air pollution is a health hazard. In other words, air pollution is directly affecting people's health. There is no part of the human body that is not affected by it. Air pollution is a silent killer. It is not visible. But its impact is very high. It affects every part of our body", chest specialist Dr. Raju Pangeni says.

About the effects of pollution on health and preventive measures, chest disease and intensive care specialist Dr. Edited excerpt of online journalist Pushparaj Chaulagai's conversation with Pangeni:

The pollution level in the valley has increased a lot since the last few days, what is the reason for this?

Air pollution is of two types - external and internal. External pollution can be caused by smoke emitted from vehicles, pollution caused by burning various wastes, gases, chemicals, and dust particles emitted from houses, brick kilns and various factories and industries. Sometimes there can be air pollution due to forest fires, natural disasters.

In Nepal, especially in urban markets, air pollution is caused by external factors. Indoor pollution is caused by activities that take place inside the home. Firewood used for cooking, coal, gas stoves, chemicals from heaters, smoke from smoking cigarettes are sources of indoor air pollution.

Most of the effects of pollution were seen in urban areas, right?

External pollution is more in cities and internal pollution is more in villages. Most of the asthma patients in health institutions are from rural areas. You have been coming with problems caused by smoking cigarettes and smoke from firewood and firewood.

Regarding Nepal, the effect of air pollution is more in Kathmandu Valley. Similarly, there is more pollution in Bhairahawa, Pokhara, Chitwan and other cities.

What are the direct effects of air pollution on health?

There are many types of chemicals in air pollution. The dust particles visible to our naked eyes are of large size.

Hair fibers are larger than 50 microns in size. But the air pollution we are talking about is smaller than 10 micrograms, which reach the inner layers of the lungs. Large dust particles stay outside. Because of this, our body runs from the nose, the throat becomes hoarse, and black phlegm comes out when we cough.

Very small particles reach the inner layers of the lungs. Those who have asthma, breathing problems, chest infections. In addition, some people have problems related to chronic asthma, and sudden asthma, breathing problems, low oxygen levels and fainting occur.

If problems such as coughing and breathing problems are seen directly, some people may also have chronic diseases. It also reduces the ability to fight disease. Small children, elderly people get pneumonia, chest infection. He may have to come to the hospital for treatment.

Particles smaller than 2.5 micrograms can also enter the circulatory system through the lungs. If it goes to the circulatory system, the possibility of affecting all parts of the body is strong. As a result, it reaches the heart, kidneys, head and causes paralysis and even cancer.

Similarly, air pollution also affects the baby in the pregnant woman's stomach. Therefore, the effect of air pollution is not only on the respiratory system but also on other organs.

What are the causes of air pollution in cold weather?

There are mainly two or three reasons for the increase in air pollution in cold weather. Heaters used to increase the temperature, we burn wood, the dust particles released from it cause pollution.

Especially if it is cloudy in the winter season in the valley, it acts as a 'blanket'. Inside there is cold air of pollution. If the air is not able to circulate properly, it will stay stuck in one place.

The amount of pollution is very high in the morning and evening. Moreover, if there is a fire in the dry season, it goes from one district to another and from one country to another.

Even in our border region (India), the speed of air pollution is very high. Therefore, during this air transfer, there is a possibility that the pollution will go from the urban area to another place. Apart from that, it also happens due to other human behavior. The source of air pollution starts from our homes.

What kind of diseases can pollution lead to a serious condition?

If the amount of air pollution reaches 300 micrograms, it affects even healthy people. But if the amount of air pollution is more than a small amount, it will affect people who have less ability to fight disease.

For example, pollution can affect children under five years old, elderly people over 65 years old, people with asthma, allergies, chronic diseases. Also, the ability to cough is reduced due to pollution. For example, it can even make the elderly unable to cough up.

In any hospital, in any season, one third of patients come due to incurable chronic diseases. Half of them are due to respiratory diseases. Most asthmatics have respiratory problems. Smoke due to allergies There are more patients with asthma due to smoking. There are many patients with chest infection due to the direct connection between respiratory problems and air pollution.

Kathmandu is one of the most polluted cities in the world, what is the reason for the increasing pollution?

Air pollution was already there. We have ignored it. Now we see large dust particles in the atmosphere, we stopped seeing them while driving and looking around. We saw all this and got the move to increase. Air pollution is the microscopic dust particles emitted by vehicles that cannot be seen by our eyes.

Nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrate sulfate, ammonia, metal fragments, carbon and metal chemicals are mixed in air pollution. Most of these particles cannot be seen by our eyes. Since its problem is not visible, its severity is not predictable.

At this time, it can increase rapidly due to the weather. But in various researches on the amount of air pollution, it was reported that Nepal ranks high among the countries with the worst air pollution in the world. This year has increased a lot. But the problem of air pollution has been seen in urban areas for a few years now.

Pollution affects the overall life along with immediate health problems, doesn't it?

It has affected daily activities and lifestyle. Overall, how is the 'quality of life'. In one way, pollution causes long breathing problems. It causes heart, kidney and chronic disease problems.

Even if someone lives, there cannot be a 'better life'. Having to cough all the time, not being able to walk fast, physical and mental problems occur even when sitting. Apart from that, it also affects the life expectancy. Compared to the 'survivor rate' of a child born in a western country, a child born in a less developed country like Nepal is two years less. The main reason is air pollution.

It is estimated that more than 300,000 people die annually in the world due to air pollution. Similarly, more than 10,000 people die in Nepal. Because the process of measuring it is a little difficult, it has not been able to get its accurate data.

Is it suitable to walk in the morning and evening in this weather?

It depends on the place and situation. During this season, when the air pollution is high, the pollution chemicals are at a low level in the morning and evening in the valley. It is better for people living inside the valley not to go out all morning and evening.

But the same thing is not applicable for the people living in the open areas outside the valley. Air pollution devices have also been placed in various places. Now you can watch it on your phone. Therefore, it is better to go out only after looking at the amount of air pollution.

How does it affect in the long run?

It varies from place to place. Air pollution is high in urban areas everywhere in Nepal. This pollution is increasing every year. If we do not find a solution to this immediately, it is certain that it will have a long-term impact in the future.

It is not immediately visible. It also affects the unborn child. Congenital respiratory problems are more likely to cause low birth weight, later cancer, heart and chronic diseases. The risk starts when you are in the womb. This is a big problem.

If we do not find a way to solve it, it is sure to cause a big problem in the future.

What should be done by the government to reduce pollution?

In terms of policy, the first thing is to find out what caused the increase, what are its sources. Which may not be the same in every area. The main thing is that research is needed.

How can the pollution caused by traffic in a place be reduced? As a policy, they should not drive old vehicles and use electric vehicles.

Public awareness should be raised when the level is too high. As much as possible, it should be requested not to use unnecessary means at such times. If there is an increase in industrial pollution in a place, it should be closed for a few days.

In the same way, if there is an increase in pollution due to the use of firewood, an improved stove should be used as an alternative. Therefore, as a policy, strict rules should be made and it should also be monitored.

As a policy, the source should be identified and various methods should be adopted to reduce that source. At the same time, public awareness work should also be done. When the air pollution is high, even on a personal basis, do not litter randomly, do not go out as much as possible, and if you have to go out, you should use a mask. But its long-term solution should come from policy.

Is it not possible to get rid of this problem now?

Air pollution is a silent killer. It is not visible. But its impact is very high. It affects every part of our body. It affects the society. It also affects the image of the country. Therefore, government, social and individual levels should work together to reduce air pollution.

This is not only today, but now we have got the move by increasing too much. It has been a silent killer for years. Unless a long-term solution is found, only reducing it for four to five days will not get rid of it for a long time.