A Health Advisory to citizens from our top doctors

IT IS TIME TO DECLARE AIR POLLUTION

A NATIONAL EMERGENCY

New Delhi, November 2, 2017:

Here are the undeniable facts:

AIR POLLUTION IS A SLOW KILLER IN INDIA

 WINTER IS THE WORST TIME IN TERMS OF OUTDOOR AIR QUALITY AND OUTDOOR EXERCISE IS DEFINITELY HARMFUL. THIS INCLUDES SPORTING EVENTS WHERE NOT ONLY PLAYERS BUT EVEN SPECTATORS SUFFER.

 TILL SUCH TIME THAT WE ACHIEVE OUR TARGET OF CLEAN AIR THROUGH POLICY CHANGE AND LAWS, UNFORTUNATELY, WE WILL HAVE TO MINIMIZE OUR EXPOSURE TO THE OUTDOOR AIR.

1. Air pollution affects the skin, eyes, nose and sinuses, throat, lungs, heart and indirectly every vital organ in our body.
2. It affects even the unborn child in a pregnant woman.
3. Air pollution is responsible for disease and death in millions of people IN INDIA.
4. Exercising is vital for health but not when we are breathing poison. It is vital to plan your exercise environment very carefully.
5. Air pollution causes permanent damage TO LUNGS, similar to smoking.
6. If we talk about the PM 2.5 OR PM 10, ozone or other noxious gases in our air IN INDIA there is no really safe time to be outdoors.

A NORMAL ADULT BREATHES APPROXIMATELY 6 LITRES OF AIR PER MINUTE AT REST. WHEN WE EXERCISE IN TOXIC AIR, YOU MAY INHALE UPTO 20 LITRES OF THIS.

Running a marathon in these air conditions can deposit approximately 2 tablespoons of toxic ash in your lungs.

IMAGINE THE DAMAGE.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO NOW:

• FOLLOW DAILY LOCAL AIR QUALITY ALERTS WHICH WILL GUIDE PEOPLE IN A FORM THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS ON WHAT ACTIVITIES TO RESTRICT
• EXERCISE AREAS SHOULD BE AT LEAST 200 METRES AWAY FROM ROADS/ CONSTRUCTION SITES/ SMOKE EMITTING INDUSTRY. (EVEN THIS DOES NOT GUARANTEE CLEAN AIR)
• EDUCATE PEOPLE ON MASKS. NORMAL SURGICAL MASKS ARE USELESS AGAINST POLLUTION
• N95 MASKS ARE EFFECTIVE BUT SUFFOCATING ESPECIALLY DURING EXERCISE
• BRANDED MASKS ARE EFFICIENT BUT EXPENSIVE AND NOT A DAILY SOLUTION WHILE EXERCISING.
• PATIENTS AT RISK SHOULD TAKE THEIR MEDICATION DILIGENTLY AND AVOID UNNECESSARY EXPOSURE AS FAR AS POSSIBLE

Smoking cessation is an individual responsibility

Provision of clean cooking gas is the government’s responsibility

We need to focus on air pollution as a collective solution

THIS IS A HEALTH WARNING. PLEASE DON’T IGNORE IT.

ENDORSED BY INDIA’S TOP DOCTORS

Dr. Naresh Trehan, Consultant Cardiac Surgeon
Founder Medanta Medicity
Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri Awardee

Dr. Neeraj Jain, Head, Department of Respiratory Medicine,
Sir Ganga Ram Hospital

Dr. Arvind Kumar, Head, Department of Chest Surgery,
Sir Ganga Ram Hospital

Dr Harsh Mahajan, Founder & Chief Radiologist
Mahajan Imaging
Padma Shri Awardee

Dr Navin Dang, Consultant Microbiologist
Director, Dr. Dang’s Lab, Delhi

Dr Ashwani Chopra, Consultant Physician
Director, Fortis Aashlok Hospital, Delhi

Dr Alok Chopra, Consultant Physician
Director, Fortis Aashlok Hospital, Delhi