Air pollution is increasingly being identified as a major contributor to asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung infections, and long-term respiratory ailments—particularly affecting young children, senior citizens, and individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions.
Speaking at the 37th annual national conference of the National Respiratory Chapter, PedPulmoCon-2025, environmental and public health expert Dr Anumita Roy Chowdhury highlighted the dangers posed by fine particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and sulphur dioxide. These pollutants, she said, penetrate deep into the lungs and cause significant damage. She urged citizens to adopt low-pollution lifestyle practices to reduce long-term health risks.
During a session on ‘Ambient Pollution and the Lung’, Dr Abhishek Madhura of AIIMS explained that the causes of coughing up blood vary between adults and children. In children, he said, it is often associated with infections, pneumonia, or severe coughing. He stressed that the presence of blood in sputum is never normal and requires immediate medical attention.
Paediatrician Dr Suchit Bagde noted that winter inversion traps cold air near the ground, allowing vehicle emissions to combine with fog and create smog. This sharply elevates particulate levels and increases the Air Quality Index (AQI). He advised that children with respiratory issues should avoid early morning outdoor exposure and wear masks to reduce risk.
The conference, organised in collaboration with the Academy of Paediatrics, Nagpur, was held at Hotel Centre Point and drew more than 700 faculty members, delegates, and dignitaries from across the country.
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