Breathing Issues To Cancer: How Air Pollution Impacts Our Health
NDTV
Delhi pollution: The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified air pollution, in particular PM2.5, as a leading cause of cancer.
It's the start of the winter season and Delhi is again witnessing a sharp dip in air quality. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 346, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Experts say there are many contributing factors for Delhi pollution, such as vehicular emissions, smoke from stubble burning and low wind speed. The crisis situation has caused the central government to implement more stringent curbs under the Graded Response Action Plan or GRAP to limit the pollution.
Several studies have highlighted the ill effects of air pollution, which is the single largest environmental health risk in Europe and a major cause of premature death and disease.
According to European Environment Agency (EEA), both short- and long-term exposure to air pollution can lead to a wide range of diseases, including stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, trachea, bronchus and lung cancers, aggravated asthma and lower respiratory infections.
