Asthma patients want ban on polluting crackers
The approximately 10 lakh asthma and bronchitis patients in Mumbai are holding their breath. Next week won't be easy for them. While the entire nation looks forward to Diwali as a celebration of life, these 10 lakh people begin readying their life savers - inhalers, nebulisers or whatever gives them the breath of life.
The pollution level in Mumbai is anyway way too high for the comfort of asthma patients, but it experiences a sharp spike during Diwali due to the smoke emanating from firecrackers. Seen another way, for an asthma patient, Diwali is like an annual exam. A tough one.
Now for the first time, the Asthma and Bronchitis Association of India (ABAI) has written a letter to the chief minister, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and the commissioner of police asking them to consider a ban on crackers emitting excessive smoke. The crackers that cause the most trouble are anar, chakri, snake pills.
According to ABAI, asthma is a disease of the respiratory system in which the airways constrict, become inflamed, and are lined with excessive amounts of mucus, often in response to one or more 'triggers', such as exposure to an environmental stimulant (or allergen), cold air, exercise, or emotional stress. Patients need clean air but pollution in cities is a major problem, which gets aggravated during Diwali.
Many patients are known to flee to rural areas in search of cleaner environments.
Among them is Nalini Bhilande, a retired professor of Sydhenham College who lives in Bandra. "I have never seen how Diwali is celebrated in Mumbai. Every Diwali, I run away from the city. Last year, I was in Panvel.
"I see people enjoy bursting firecrackers but it becomes difficult for us. I cannot breath properly if I inhale the smoke. I wish there was a ban on crackers that emit excessive smoke."
Vasant Kumar Rao, a businessman and Chembur resident, stays put, but he has his own set of precautions. "I never step outside the house during Diwali for fear of being exposed to the smoke let off by crackers. I would be happiest if the government banned these smoky crackers."
"Bursting of firecrackers increase level of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrocarbons, hydrogen sulphide and suspended particulate matter (SPM)," said Dr Pramod Niphadkar, secretary, ABAI. “Action is taken against noise pollution, but not smoke pollution.”
THREE MOST POLLUTING CRACKERS:
Chakri
Snake pills
Anar
• During Diwali, smoke from firecrackers can be very painful for asthma patients. Hospitals do see a hike in asthma patients during this time. Most patients leave the city during the festival
— Dr Gustad Davar medical director, Hinduja Hospital
• Bursting of firecrackers increase level of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrocarbons, hydrogen sulphide and suspended particulate matter — Dr Pramod Niphadkar, secretary, ABAI.:SugarwareZ-064:
The approximately 10 lakh asthma and bronchitis patients in Mumbai are holding their breath. Next week won't be easy for them. While the entire nation looks forward to Diwali as a celebration of life, these 10 lakh people begin readying their life savers - inhalers, nebulisers or whatever gives them the breath of life.
The pollution level in Mumbai is anyway way too high for the comfort of asthma patients, but it experiences a sharp spike during Diwali due to the smoke emanating from firecrackers. Seen another way, for an asthma patient, Diwali is like an annual exam. A tough one.
Now for the first time, the Asthma and Bronchitis Association of India (ABAI) has written a letter to the chief minister, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and the commissioner of police asking them to consider a ban on crackers emitting excessive smoke. The crackers that cause the most trouble are anar, chakri, snake pills.
According to ABAI, asthma is a disease of the respiratory system in which the airways constrict, become inflamed, and are lined with excessive amounts of mucus, often in response to one or more 'triggers', such as exposure to an environmental stimulant (or allergen), cold air, exercise, or emotional stress. Patients need clean air but pollution in cities is a major problem, which gets aggravated during Diwali.
Many patients are known to flee to rural areas in search of cleaner environments.
Among them is Nalini Bhilande, a retired professor of Sydhenham College who lives in Bandra. "I have never seen how Diwali is celebrated in Mumbai. Every Diwali, I run away from the city. Last year, I was in Panvel.
"I see people enjoy bursting firecrackers but it becomes difficult for us. I cannot breath properly if I inhale the smoke. I wish there was a ban on crackers that emit excessive smoke."
Vasant Kumar Rao, a businessman and Chembur resident, stays put, but he has his own set of precautions. "I never step outside the house during Diwali for fear of being exposed to the smoke let off by crackers. I would be happiest if the government banned these smoky crackers."
"Bursting of firecrackers increase level of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrocarbons, hydrogen sulphide and suspended particulate matter (SPM)," said Dr Pramod Niphadkar, secretary, ABAI. “Action is taken against noise pollution, but not smoke pollution.”
THREE MOST POLLUTING CRACKERS:
Chakri
Snake pills
Anar
• During Diwali, smoke from firecrackers can be very painful for asthma patients. Hospitals do see a hike in asthma patients during this time. Most patients leave the city during the festival
— Dr Gustad Davar medical director, Hinduja Hospital
• Bursting of firecrackers increase level of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrocarbons, hydrogen sulphide and suspended particulate matter — Dr Pramod Niphadkar, secretary, ABAI.:SugarwareZ-064:
