(REUTERS File Photo
NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 3 (PTI): Doctors in the national capital Saturday said the impact of air pollution on public health can be compared to smoking of 15-20 cigarettes a day. “I have seen a change in the colour of lungs over the past 30 years that I have been operating. Earlier, I used to see black deposits only in smokers and others would have pink lungs.
“But, nowadays, I only see black lungs. Even teenagers have black spots on their lungs. This is frightening. With this unique installation, we hope to show people the reality of what’s happening to their lungs”, said Dr Arvind Kumar, founder trustee, Lung Care Foundation, Chairman – Centre for Chest Surgery, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. “The impact of the foul air on public health can be compared to smoking 15-20 cigarettes a day,” he said.
To showcase the ill effects of air pollution, an installation depicting human lungs was unveiled at the hospital Saturday. The lungs in the installation are fitted with white Hepa Filters, which due to exposure to Delhi air will turn black, demonstrating the impact of air pollution on healthy lungs, a statement issued by Sir Ganga Ram hospital said.
The installation is a part of a campaign launched by the Help Delhi Breathe initiative, the Lung Care Foundation and the hospital, it said.
“Air pollution has reached alarming levels in Delhi and is causing severe damage to the health of the citizens. We have to act immediately to control this menace, otherwise the health consequences will be disastrous. We are already seeing an increasing number of patients in our hospital continuously complain about cough, irritation in throat and nose”, said Dr SP Byotra, vice-chairman, Board of Management, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. Inspired by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) first-ever global conference on air pollution held recently in Geneva, the campaign hopes to raise awareness on the effects of air pollution in the capital and to urge policy makers to take prompt remedial action.
