Pollution causes cellular damage too: Experts

NEWDELHI: Breathing in high volumes of heavily polluted air for a prolonged period adversely affects not just the organs in your body but also causes damage at the cellular level, say experts.

The Chest, the official publication of the American College of Chest Physicians, highlighted this year that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) 2.5 or less is the fifth leading risk factor for death globally. In recent Global Burden of Disease data analysis, over a million premature deaths were attributable to ambient air pollution in 2015 in India. Your lungs, heart and brain are worst sufferers when pollution spikes as very fine PM particles can find their way into the circulatory system and damage the organs.

CHOKES THE LUNGS

The respiratory system comprises nose, throat, respiratory tubes and lungs. PM 2.5 and 10 microns are dangerous as they are of respirable size and can travel down to lowest part of lungs where gas exchange takes place. “When we say PM 2.5 or 10, it is only the PM size we are talking about. Damage depends on source of PM, such as firecrackers, fuel combustion, stubble burning,” says Dr GC Khilnani, former head of pulmonology dept, AIIMS.

Damage starts with inflammation of airway, and finer the PM, deeper it penetrates. “ultrafine particles of 0.1 micron or less are most dangerous as they penetrate the lungs and reach the blood stream, from where they can go anywhere – brain, heart, kidneys,” said Dr Khilnani.

HARMS THE HEART Breathing in pollution can cause irreversible damage to arteries. “When these fine particles reach the blood, they get attached to the blood vessel walls – the arteries. Over time, there can be a clot formation inside the vessel leading to blockage. There can be a sudden narrowing of blood vessels eventually leading to a heart attack,” said Dr Upendra Kaul, senior cardiologist, Batra Hospital & Medical Research Centre.

It can lead to an unstable angina. In patients who have blockages, pollutants can accelerate the process.

Respiratory diseases can damage the heart. “Chronic bronchitis leads to heart disease, though of a different kind,” he adds.

BRAIN DAMAGE

The brain is also not spared from pollution. “When the heart malfunctions, it affects the brain as well, as blood or oxygen flow to the brain becomes restricted, which can lead to a stroke. Also, inhaling pollutants emits certain chemical responses within the body which can cause a stroke over time,” says Dr Deepak Aggarwal, professor, neurosurgery, AIIMS.

Pollutants can cause autoimmune disorders. “It can lead to vasculitis – inflammation of blood vessels that leads to thickening, weakening, narrowing or scarring of the vessels. This could also lead to a stroke,” he added.

Heavy use of ACS, cooking gas and other appliances, along with high diesel generator use due to frequent power cuts

Pollutants are released during drilling, demolition and transportation of materials, and due to improper road sweeping

Waste that does not make it to landfills is burnt by residents across the city

Delhi’s 8.8mn vehicles are more than the vehicles in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata combined

Plants and factories in certain manufacturing pockets of the city

Pollutants from crop burning in Haryana and Punjab during winter adversely affect Delhi air