Children Pay the Highest Price for Delhi’s Toxic Air: A Call to Action | Delhi News – Times of India

Air pollution in Delhi is a major health concern. Children are most vulnerable to its effects. The pollution affects their development and can cause serious health problems.

For the past several years, air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR and adjoining regions rise steeply to hazardous levels, especially between Oct and Jan. Unfortunately, victims of this health hazard are forced to remain silent spectators as the govt continues to play an apathetic role with lack of measurable action to tackle the problem.
Children are the biggest victims of air pollution with their growing brain and body particularly vulnerable to the effects of the toxins. They readily absorb the pollutants in their body and retain them for long.
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The injurious effects of breathing polluted air begin in the mother’s womb. The pollutants induce a state of inflammation in pregnant women and the toxins and pro-inflammatory chemicals cross the placenta adversely affecting the growing foetus. The growing brain and nervous system are especially at risk as these toxins easily cross the blood-brain barrier. Moreover, they also damage genetic material or DNA, inducing long-term harm. This results in babies born with low birth weight and developmental delays. Studies from various countries have found that air pollution is linked to an increased rate of intrauterine death and neonatal mortality. There is growing evidence linking air pollution to autism, a neurodevelopment problem in children which is rising to alarming levels.
The ill-effects of air pollution continue after birth and throughout life. Brain growth predominantly occurs in the first five years of life and particulate matter and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons adversely affect brain development in young children. In studies conducted in China, scientists have proved that air pollution leads to decreased head size and poorer neurodevelopment outcomes and intelligence (IQ) at 5 years.
In São Paulo, Brazil, sophisticated studies using time-series analysis found a robust link between gaseous and particulate air pollution and child respiratory morbidity and mortality confirmed by studies from other countries, including Mexico and China. The association of air pollution with child death was found even with short-term exposure to poor ambient air.
While we all are aware of the effects of air pollution on respiratory illnesses, including asthma and bronchitis and lung cancer, there is good evidence that air pollution is linked to increased long-term risk of lifestyle diseases like diabetes and other types of cancer. Paediatricians and parents recognize the need for outdoor play and activity in children in order to have optimal physical and mental health and to prevent lifestyle diseases like obesity. This leads to a peculiar conundrum when children are restricted from going outdoors due to high levels of air pollution. An extreme example of this phenomenon is the announcement of emergency closure of schools. The fact that these emergency closures occur year after year shows the lack of political will to tackle this public health and environmental crisis.
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The search for a solution has to begin by accepting the fact that we are faced with an urgent crisis and demanding action from the govt. Many countries have effectively tackled the menace of air pollution by displaying strong political will. Foremost, the seasonal pollution due to stubble burning needs to be urgently addressed by strong legislation and solutions for parali and waste disposal. A long-term solution has to be found in greater investment in technology and advancements for effective garbage disposal, vehicular pollution and renewable energy.
Children have no voice of their own. We, as parents and guardians, need to stand up for them and demand solutions from the govt. Children are the future of our nation and they have a right to life and right to clean air.
(Dr. Rajni Sharma is Additional Professor, Paediatrics and Paediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi)