Dangers from indoor pollution
Sunday, 26 July 2009
Firoz Ahmed
A non-governmental organisation carried out a survey the results of which ought to create a great deal of concern, to say the least. According to the survey results, 90 per cent of children in the country are afflicted by indoor pollution from one source or the other or multiple sources and that 88 per cent of the total population of all age categories are exposed to the same dangers. The survey findings were reported extensively, drawing attention to the indispensability of awareness programmes to make the people conscious about improving homes and life-styles to reduce or overcome the serious health hazards from indoor pollutants.
The findings of the survey are supported by the increasing number of cases coming to doctors and medical centres with asthma, bronchitis, allergies and other respiratory tract infections and illnesses. The preponderant number of the cases involve children because they usually have less developed immune systems compared to adults.
Children living in shanty dwellings, poorly planned houses, slums and even in the homes of the rich, fall prey to diseases due to different forms of indoor pollution. In most of the homes of the poor, the pollutants are from lack of care for hygiene. Day to day cleanliness and safe lifestyles are essential to ward-off diseases.
Adequate ventilation is a sine qua non for clear or ample breathing. But far too many homes are seen to be in cramped conditions with little or no attention paid to ventilating them properly for the free circulation of air. Even many affluent families choose to live in badly ventilated apartments and buildings without realising how harmful the same can be for health. Handling of all kinds of chemicals, sprays, insect repellants, etc., within the homes without following proper advice in these respects, also contribute significantly to illnesses that include cancer.
Thus, from the perspective of public health, it has become necessary to raise consciousness at all levels in the country about ensuring healthful conditions in the homes and the adoption of a proper lifestyle to this end.
A non-governmental organisation carried out a survey the results of which ought to create a great deal of concern, to say the least. According to the survey results, 90 per cent of children in the country are afflicted by indoor pollution from one source or the other or multiple sources and that 88 per cent of the total population of all age categories are exposed to the same dangers. The survey findings were reported extensively, drawing attention to the indispensability of awareness programmes to make the people conscious about improving homes and life-styles to reduce or overcome the serious health hazards from indoor pollutants.
The findings of the survey are supported by the increasing number of cases coming to doctors and medical centres with asthma, bronchitis, allergies and other respiratory tract infections and illnesses. The preponderant number of the cases involve children because they usually have less developed immune systems compared to adults.
Children living in shanty dwellings, poorly planned houses, slums and even in the homes of the rich, fall prey to diseases due to different forms of indoor pollution. In most of the homes of the poor, the pollutants are from lack of care for hygiene. Day to day cleanliness and safe lifestyles are essential to ward-off diseases.
Adequate ventilation is a sine qua non for clear or ample breathing. But far too many homes are seen to be in cramped conditions with little or no attention paid to ventilating them properly for the free circulation of air. Even many affluent families choose to live in badly ventilated apartments and buildings without realising how harmful the same can be for health. Handling of all kinds of chemicals, sprays, insect repellants, etc., within the homes without following proper advice in these respects, also contribute significantly to illnesses that include cancer.
Thus, from the perspective of public health, it has become necessary to raise consciousness at all levels in the country about ensuring healthful conditions in the homes and the adoption of a proper lifestyle to this end.