Air loaded with pollutants not only affects the respiratory tracts, but also causes a host of cardiac ailments, doctors and scientists said at a conference in the city on Wednesday.
Heart failure, stroke, irregular heartbeat, inflammation and hypertension are some of the diseases caused by air pollution. Some people experience a sudden impact, while for others exposure to polluted air slowly increases the chances of these diseases.
Even foetuses have a high risk of having hypertension if the mother is exposed to polluted air.
John Greenwood, president of the British Cardiovascular Society, said stroke and heart attack are some of the sudden health risks one faces when exposed to polluted air.
“Long-term exposure to polluted air can cause hypertension and inflammation. Hypertension is the root cause of so many ailments. Long-term exposure to polluted air also increases the risk of heart attack and stroke,” said Greenwood, who was speaking at the conference that discussed how air pollution leads to cardiovascular diseases.
The conference was organised by the Cardiological Society of India at a city hotel on Wednesday.
Doctors and scientists stressed the fact that while several people have now become aware that air pollution leads to lungs diseases, most are still unaware about its impact on the cardiovascular system.
“The most vulnerable groups are pregnant women, those with diabetes and existing heart conditions. People living near high diesel traffic zones are also vulnerable because they are more exposed to polluted air,” said Ramesh Daggubati, associate chief of cardiology and director of structural heart disease, West Virginia University School of Medicine in the US.
“Studies have shown that foetuses also get exposed to air pollution. These children have a higher incidence of hypertension.”
Mrinal Kanti Das, a former president of the Cardiological Society of India, said exposure to polluted air can also cause arrhythmia, which is improper beating of the heart.
Scientists said particulate matters PM2.5 — a major pollutant in Calcutta and other Indian cities — are so fine that they can breach barriers and enter the blood stream. The pollutants then can affect any organ.
Some air quality measuring stations in Calcutta had recorded “poor” and “very poor” air on several days last month.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board, “poor air” can cause breathing discomfort to most people on prolonged exposure.
“Very poor” air can cause respiratory illness on prolonged exposure.
Several doctors and scientists stressed the need to identify vulnerable groups so their situation is factored in when a plan to counter the impact of air pollution is framed. If the vulnerable groups are not identified, they will become more vulnerable with time.
Scientists said a drop in temperature and wind speed during winter trap pollutants — released by human activities and other sources — closer to the ground. This increases the exposure of people to foul air.
Stronger winds in summer blow away pollutants. Also, higher temperatures during summer warm up the air, which then rises and takes away the pollutants.
This process of dispersal slows down with a drop intemperature as winter approaches.