Dust, fumes, gas, mist, vapour, particulate matter. With every breath, we inhale these and more. The bad air leaves a metallic aftertaste in our mouths. If the mouth is an indicator, imagine the condition of the body.
The air in most Indian cities has been laden with pollutants for weeks due to stubble burning and festivals. The AQI has reached 'severe', mostly in the North of India.
While the country debates whether it is a day or two of high pollution crackers that filled the skies even after the ban or is it India's everyday lifestyle which doesn't adhere to pollution norms that makes the Air 'unbreathable', experts insist measures need to be taken at the individual level to reduce the impact of pollution on the human body.
How does air pollution impact the human body?
The main pathway of exposure to air pollution is through the respiratory tract. World Health Organization (WHO) says breathing in pollutants leads to inflammation, which causes an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants. Free radicals are unstable molecules that are produced during natural processes like metabolism and antioxidants are molecules present in food which neutralise these unstable molecules and reduce the damage to the body.
The immunity or the body's ability to fight disease is reduced. There are changes in human cells impacting the lungs, heart, and brain among other organs and ultimately leading to disease. Other organs like skin and eyes are also affected.
WHO also links air pollution exposure with increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes (i.e. low birth weight, small for gestational age), other cancers, diabetes, cognitive impairment or mental health problems, and neurological diseases.
"Pollution has both long-term and short-term impacts on the body. Air pollution can increase the risk of heart disease, malignancy, and respiratory diseases like Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). It can also cause chronic cough and chest infections," said Dr Neeraj Nischal, Additional Professor at the Department of Medicine at AIIMS.