75% Of Children Have Breathlessness Problems In Delhi, Finds Study

In a new study conducted by the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), it was found that climate change leaves 75% of the children feeling suffocated in the nation's capital.

The study was conducted on 413 children, out of which 24.2% complained of itchy eyes, 75.4% complained of breathlessness, 20.9% of children complained of coughing in the morning, and 22.3% complained of regular sneezing or runny nose. The age of children who were included in the survey was between 14-17 years of age.

Hazardous Metals In The Air

The study also says that air in Delhi has a high concentration of PM 2.5 that may increase problems for health. In October 2019, the zinc concentration in the city's PM 2.5 (particles less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter) was 379 ng/m3 (nanograms per cubic meter of air). It increased to 615 ng/m3 (nanograms per cubic meter of air). In the same way, the lead content in Delhi's air was 233 ng/m3 (nanograms per cubic meter) in 2019, and now it is increased to 406 ng/m3 (nanograms per cubic meter of air) in the year 2020, with an arsenic content of 3 ng/m3.

Many experts have said that these metals are highly hazardous to health, and continuous exposure to these can create many health problems for human life. The high amount of arsenic and cadmium in the air also put ordinary people at high risk of Kidney problems, cancer, high blood pressure, heart diseases and diabetes, as reported by Hindustan Times.

" If PM 2.5 level - less than 60 ug/m3 - is considered an acceptable norm, but if the concentration of toxic metals is high in the air, then it means your health is a very high risk," said Kanhaiya Lal, TERI Associate Fellow (Environment and Health).

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