Living with Bangalore Air Pollution: What You Need to Know!

It is no great surprise that the air quality in Bangalore is extremely poor. Everyday, you breathe more than 100 grams of tar, which is worse than smoking 18 cigarettes per day. Although, all of us know it, many of us do not understand the effects of such contaminants and what it does for your body. This article, hopefully will help you understand the significance of air pollution and its effects on us.

What is Air pollution?
Air pollution occurs when harmful substances like particulate matter and other biological molecules are introduced into the atmosphere. This particulate matter is called PM. PM exists as PM10 or PM2.5. PM10 basically means that the size of this particle in the air that we breathe is greater than 10 microns in size while PM 2.5, as you guessed rightly, is particulate matter that is lesser than 2.5 microns in size.

Why is PM 2.5 more critical than PM 10?

When we breathe air, the air passes through our nose and our body has several filtration mechanisms the filter out the impurities. However, when the particular matter size is less than 2.5 microns it beats all our filtration mechanisms and enters the lungs. the damage to our body begins when the PM 2.5 enters the lungs and starts reacting with our body tissues

What are the sources of PM 2.5?
Apart from natural sources like wildfires, volcanoes, etc, most of the PM 2.5 is is produced from man made sources. These include;

1. Incomplete Combustion: Incomplete combustion occurs when there is not enough oxygen to completely burn. Fossil fuels which contain carbon and hydrogen burn and produce Carbondioxide and water. In lack of oxygen, it burns incompletely and produces carbon monoxide, which is extremely toxic to humans.
2. Automobile emissions: Bangalore has more than 65 lakh vehicles plying on the road releasing PM 2.5. Trucks, buses and certain SUVs are the highest polluters. Ingeneral, diesel cars produce several times greater PM 2.5 than petrol cars and at least 3 times higher Nitric oxide levels. The metro has considerably reduced the amount of vehicular pollution though, but the government has yet to take any definitive action on polluting vehicles.

3. Dust: Dust generated in the environment through construction works, road repair works and other activities produce a large amount of PM 2.5 With the amount of construction activity in Bangalore, it is not surprising that bangalore has the second highest PM 2.5 levels in the country. The supreme court has given direction to use powered vacuums to construction site workers to ensure that PM 2.5 levels are kept at low. But sadly, there is no one to implement nor is anyone bothered to ensured the strict implementation of the same.
4. Solid Waste burning: The solid waste burning is another major contributor for PM 2.5. Ever since Namma Bengaluru has turned into a garbage city,  the roadside burning of solid wastes has taken a huge toll on the environment. Again the supreme court has levied penalties of 5000/- on open burning and 50000/- on construction dust (if vacuum not used), but sadly no one has taken any initiaitives to curb it.

How does it Affect You?

Respiratory System: The organic components of PM 2.5 can produce a lot of free radicals in your body and these enter your lungs and can oxidize the lung cells resulting in direct lung injury. The free radicals can also cause direct DNA damage to the cells and can induce carcinogenic changes in the lungs and other pats of the body.
Short term exposure can cause;

• coughing
• Tightness/Shortness of breath
• Eye irritation

Long term exposure can cause;

• Impaired lung function
• Aggravation of lung diseases
• Premature death

Cardiovascular System:

The PM 2.5 can have significant effects on your heart incuding

•  increased risk of stroke, 
• heart attacks, increased 
• blood pressure and even 
• Premature Death. 

A recent study, shows that increased exposure to PM 2.5 can increase the risk of heart attacks by over 20%. 

It is also important to realize that certain sections of the society are far more vulnerable than others. These include senior citizens, children and medically compromised people in the society.

What is the Government Doing?
Despite the Supreme Court giving directives, none of the state governments barring Delhi Government has taken any initiatives to protect its citizens. In a recent article,(http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/study-health-costs-of-pollution-in-india-8-times-of-govts-fuel-subsidy/articleshow/59876145.cms) , it clearly states that

India spent $16.3 Billion Dollars on fuel subsidies for fossil fuels but the health costs associated with pollution crossed way more than  $140 Billion Dollars.

 If the government had spent that money on public health,  we could have solved many of these issues and improving the quality of lives of Bangaloreans and entire India.

What You can Do?

1. Use the Metro more often: Public transport can significantly decrease the overall carbon load on our immediate vicinity

2. Carpool: Carpool with trustworthy individuals to ensure that you are safe as well as the environmet is safe.

3. Turn off the ignition: When at a traffic signal with more than 30 seconds to go for green, turn off the ignition.

4. Report open waste burning to KSPCB at its helpline 080- 25581383, 080- 25586520.

5. Carry a mouth mask (triple layered) and use it at polluted places and also dispose it after use (in your bag and not on the road).

6. In case of some vehicles leaving out a huge blue plume of smoke, take a picture of the vehicle with its registration number and upload it on the BTP (Bangalore Traffic Police) website/facebook page with a brief summary.

You Live Only Once, Ensure that You Do!
Till next time,
Krishnaraj
Bangalorehealth