Do’s and don’ts amid rising AQI levels across Delhi-NCR: Key takeaways from latest health advisory

Delhiites have been breathing polluted air for the past few days, and the air quality is deteriorating day by day, causing severe health problems.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has released a health advisory on air pollution, which states that the main harmful air pollutants include particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ground-level ozone, volatile organic compounds, metals, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxideConsequences of air pollution.

The consequences of air pollution depends on the level of pollution and exposure duration.

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Health issues caused by poor air quality

Here are some health issues caused by rising air pollution:

• Short-term high-level exposures: Irritation in eyes, nose, throat and skin. cough, breathing difficulty, wheezing, chest discomfort, chest pain, headache, giddiness, limb weakness and facial deviation.
• Long term exposure: Staying long to even lower level of air pollution can result in chronic illnesses of respiratory and cardiovascular systems, lung cancer and premature deaths.
• Exposure during pregnancy may have consequences for child in womb.
• Those with pre-existing illnesses of respiratory cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems are at higher risk
• People with poor nutritional status; those living in poor housing, using fossil fuels for cooking, heating/ lighting purposes are at risk.

Precautionary measures to stay safe as AQI levels rise

• Reschedule outdoor activities as per AQI, and remain indoors on days with poor to severe AQl.
• Practice wet mopping instead of sweeping or vacuum cleaning inside homes.
• If you choose to use vacuum cleaner. use those having High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter.
• Keep washing your eyes with running water regularly and do regular gargles with wann water.
• Consult the nearest doctor in case of breathlessness, giddiness, cough, chest discomfort or pail, irritation in eyes (red or watery)
• Take healthy diet, with fruit and vegetables rich in antioxidants, and adequate amount of hydration by drinking water is advocated.
• If suffering from any disease, keep the prescribed medications readily available.
• Use face mask like disposable N95 or N99. Masks should have proper fitting on users' mouth and nose. Ensure to replace the masks after usage as instructed.
• Avoid using an air purifier that works by generating ozone. as it increases pollution inside rooms.
• Make sure that paper masks, handkerchief, scarves and cloth are not effective.
• Check the daily Air Quality Index (AQI) of your area before planning your day out.
• Choose green to breathe clean: Planting more trees can reduce the effect of air pollution on health. Head towards a pollution free tomorrow with every tree you plant.

What NOT to do during high pollution days in Delhi

• Visiting places with high air pollution like roads with slow & heavy traffic, areas near polluting industries, construction-demolition sites.
• Outdoor morning and late evening walk. run, jog and physical exercise.
• Opening external doors and windows during morning and late evening hours, it may ventilate if necessary, between l2 pm to 4 pm in aftenoon (If your city is under poor to severe category).
• Burning mosquito coils and incense sticks in closed premises.
• Smoking cigarettes, bidis and related tobacco products.
• Open burning of any form of wood, leaves, crop residues, & waste.
• Use of room fresheners, it has ill effects as it consume oxygen in vicinity very fast.
• Outdoor morning and late evening walk, run, jog and physical exercise.
• Burning biomass such as wood, coal, animal dung, kerosene.
• Burning of wood/ charcoal in 'Anghiti' during winters, in closed and confined condition which may be fatal due to CO and built-up carbon dioxide.