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<keyword id="55910" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Air-Pollution" source="Orion">Air pollution</keyword> is a pressing global issue that affects both developed and developing nations. Using data from the IQAir 2022 World Air Quality Ranking we will examine the <keyword id="19039904" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="most-polluted-countries-in-the-world" source="Orion">most polluted countries in the world</keyword> from 2018 to 2022, shedding light on the sources of <keyword id="13001" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pollution" source="Orion">pollution</keyword> and the impacts on public health and the environment. 1. Chad Chad tops the list as one of the <keyword id="13437378" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="most-polluted-countries" source="Orion">most polluted countries</keyword>, with alarming levels of particulate matter (PM2.5). The sources of pollution primarily stem from various factors, including industrial activities and vehicular emissions. 2. Iraq Iraq is the second most polluted country on our list. The rise in air pollution can be attributed to increased industrial activities and a growing number of vehicles on the road. 3. Pakistan Pakistan has consistently faced severe air pollution, and the data indicates fluctuations in pollution levels. Major sources of pollution include vehicular emissions, industrial discharges, and crop burning. 4. Bahrain Bahrain, despite its small size, faces significant air pollution challenges primarily due to industrial activities and oil refineries. The government has initiated measures to combat this issue. 5. Bangladesh Bangladesh has been grappling with air pollution, mainly driven by vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, and construction activities. The health impacts are severe, leading to respiratory diseases and other health issues. 6. Burkina Faso Burkina Faso, with limited available data, experiences air pollution challenges. The lack of comprehensive data makes it difficult to identify specific sources of pollution. 7. Kuwait Kuwait's air quality is affected by factors such as industrial activities, oil refineries, and construction dust. The hot and arid climate exacerbates pollution issues, leading to health problems. 8. India India, with its rapid urbanization and industrialization, has faced significant air pollution challenges. Major cities like New Delhi often experience hazardous air quality due to vehicular emissions, industrial discharges, and construction activities. 9. Egypt Egypt's air quality is affected by emissions from vehicles and industrial activities. The political situation in the country has hindered environmental regulations and enforcement. 10. Tajikistan Tajikistan has faced fluctuations in air pollution levels, driven by factors such as vehicular emissions and industrial activities. The lack of consistent data makes it challenging to track long-term trends. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Impact on Health and the Environment" comment="subhead" text="Impact on Health and the Environment">Impact on Health and the Environment</cmsannotation> The consequences of air pollution in these countries are severe, with a high incidence of respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems, and other health issues. Long-term exposure to <keyword id="6489235" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Polluted-Air" source="Orion">polluted air</keyword> can lead to more severe conditions such as lung cancer. In addition to its effect on human health, air pollution also damages the environment, including contributing to climate change, impairing ecosystems, and harming agricultural productivity. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Efforts to Combat Pollution" comment="subhead" text="Efforts to Combat Pollution">Efforts to Combat Pollution</cmsannotation> Many of these countries have recognized the urgent need to address air pollution and have taken measures to mitigate its effects. These efforts include improving public transportation, implementing stricter emission standards, and promoting clean energy alternatives. However, challenges such as limited resources, rapid urbanization, and political instability continue to hamper progress. International cooperation and support are crucial in addressing the problem of air pollution. Multilateral agreements and partnerships can help countries access technology, financing, and expertise to combat pollution effectively. Air pollution is a global concern, and the data from 2018 to 2022 highlights the persistent challenges faced by the most <keyword id="19165516" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="polluted-countries" source="Orion">polluted countries</keyword>. These nations must continue their efforts to improve air quality, protect public health, and safeguard the environment. The path to cleaner air involves a combination of government initiatives, international collaboration, and individual actions to reduce emissions and protect the planet for future generations.

The most polluted countries in the world: A global environmental concern

People exposed to higher levels of <keyword id="55910" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="air-pollution" source="Orion">air pollution</keyword> before the pandemic are likely to have lower antibody responses to Covid-19 vaccines, suggests a study. In particular, exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and blank carbon (BC) was associated with about a 10 per cent decrease in IgM and IgG antibody responses in people without prior infection, said researchers from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), and the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) in Spain. The fact that previous infections lead to higher vaccine responses could explain why the effect of pollutants was only observed in people without a prior infection. However, the role of long-term exposure to air pollution on hybrid immunity (infection plus vaccination) deserves further investigation, the researchers warned, in the study published in Environmental Health Perspectives. "Air pollution can induce chronic inflammation, which has been associated with a negative effect on vaccine efficacy," said Carlota Dobano, researcher from ISGlobal. "Our findings are consistent with evidence that persistent organic pollutants reduce vaccine responses in children," she added. Air pollutants have been shown to affect immune responses. Previously it has been linked to adverse health outcomes, including lung cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory disease, and diabetes. The team analysed data from 927 participants (aged 40 to 65 years), who answered questionnaires and gave blood samples in the summer of 2020 (right after the first lockdown) and in 2021 (after the start of Covid-19 vaccination). All had received one or two doses of the main Covid-19 vaccines administered in Spain (made by AstraZeneca, Pfizer or Moderna). The research team measured IgM, IgG and IgA antibodies to five viral antigens (three of them on the Spike protein contained in the vaccine). Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), black carbon (BC), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3) was estimated for each participant based on his or her address before the pandemic. The results show that in uninfected individuals, pre-pandemic exposure to PM2.5, NO2 and BC was associated with a 5 per cent to 10 per cent reduction in vaccine-induced Spike antibodies. The decrease in antibodies was shown both for early IgM responses and late responses measured by IgG. The IgG response after the first dose peaked later in participants exposed to higher air pollution levels, and lower IgG levels persisted for several months after vaccination. Results were similar for the three vaccines. The study did not look at whether the reduction in antibody responses led to an increased risk of breakthrough infections and their severity. However, the findings add to the growing body of evidence on the adverse effects of air pollution even at the relatively low levels observed in Western Europe, the researchers said, while calling for stricter air pollution limits. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/ipl-2023-to-drive-fantasy-sports-companies-to-2900-3100-crore-revenue/articleshow/99285556.cms">IPL 2023 to drive fantasy sports companies to ₹2,900-3,100 crore revenue, fueled by Tier-2 cities and exciting prizes</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/google-makes-it-easier-for-users-to-delete-their-account-and-data-from-applications/articleshow/99289621.cms">Google makes it easier for users to delete their account and data from applications</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/9-out-10-tvs-sold-in-india-in-2022-were-smart-tvs-and-nearly-all-of-these-tvs-are-assembled-locally/articleshow/99262205.cms">9 out 10 TVs sold in India in 2022 were smart TVs, and nearly all of these TVs are assembled locally</a>

Air pollution can affect your Covid vaccine efficacy: Study

The <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> Wednesday said it is a question of life and death of crores of people in Delhi-NCR region which is facing severe <keyword id="55910" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Air-Pollution">air pollution</keyword> and the authorities have to be held responsible for its failure to curb it. "Can you permit people to die like this due to pollution? Can you permit the country to go back by 100 years," observed a bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra. "We have to make government responsible for this," the bench said and asked, "Why can't govt machinery stop stubble burning? Coming down heavily on state governments, the top court said that if they don't bother about people, they have no right to be in power. "You just want to sit in your ivory towers and rule. You are not bothered and are letting the people die," the bench said. "You (states) have forgotten the concept of welfare government. They are not bothered about poor people, this is very unfortunate," said the bench, also comprising Justice Deepak Gupta. It also questioned as to why the state governments cannot collect and purchase stubble from farmers. "We expect more from democratic government of the country to deal with issue of stubble burning and curb pollution," the bench said, adding that "it is a question of life and death of crores of people. We have to make govt responsible for this".

Air pollution is a question of life and death for millions, says SC

<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=World+Health+Organization">World Health Organization</a> has marked <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Delhi+">Delhi </a>as the most polluted globally. In case you’re visiting the city or are a resident, you must be privy to the Capital city’s dangerous <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=air+pollution">air pollution</a>. So bad is the condition that doctors are suggesting chronic patients to leave the city. 
 
At the face of imminent disaster, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune launched a web app to check the air quality back in February this year. The app, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=SAFAR">SAFAR</a>-Air is currently only available only on <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Android">Android</a>. 
 
Here’s how you can use it to save yourself: 
 
1. The service is available in Pune, Mumbai and Delhi. 
 
2. Choose your nearest locality if yours is not on the list. 
 
3. Here’s what the terms mean: 
 
AQI: Air Quality Index (AQI) is an index for air quality. It tells us how clean or polluted the air really is. 
 
PM: Particulate Matter (PM) is the general term for solids or liquids that pollute the air. The list includes aerosols, smoke, fumes, dust, ash and pollen. 
 
4. The forecast will help you plan your next day better. 
 
5. Share it with your friends and neighbors. Increase overall awareness about Pollution! 
 
Image credit: Indiatimes

Delhiites and Visitors, here’s
how to use the Air Pollution Checker Safar app

Emissions from residential cooking and heating, power generation, and industries together contribute up to 60 per cent of India's PM2.5 pollution, with about 80 per cent of this coming from <keyword id="23824528" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fossil-fuel-combustion" source="keywords">fossil fuel combustion</keyword>, a new study has found. The peer-reviewed study, published in MDPI's "Air" journal, suggests dividing India into 15 airsheds based on regional climate and pollution sources. An airshed is a geographic area where <keyword id="53848" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="air-quality" source="Orion">air quality</keyword> is influenced by common factors such as wind patterns and pollution sources. Since pollution can spread across regions, the <keyword id="22077484" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="airshed-approach" source="keywords">airshed approach</keyword> promotes coordinated action among states. "Residential cooking and heating, power generation, and all other industries together are responsible for 40-60 per cent of the PM2.5 pollution in all the airsheds, and approximately 80 per cent of the pollution comes from fossil fuel burning sources," said Sarath Guttikunda, lead author of the study and founder of UrbanEmissions.info. The study said biomass burning, including post-harvest crop residue burning, contributed less than 3 per cent to annual PM2.5 levels while transport accounted for 5-10 per cent in all airsheds. PM2.5 are fine particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less, about the width of a human hair. These are so small that these can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, posing significant health risks. An analysis of PM2.5 trends from 1998 to 2020, along with state-level data on fuel consumption, energy demand and emissions, revealed that 11 of the 15 airsheds were critical for India's air quality management and required coordinated interventions. The Indo-Gangetic Plains remain the most polluted region, with significant emissions from residential cooking and heating (especially in winter), power plants, brick kilns (driven by construction demand), waste burning, dust and vehicular movement for passengers and freight. The plateau region between the Eastern and Western Ghats, India's second most populated area, has seen the highest rise in annual PM2.5 pollution during this period, the study said. "This is an indication of the growing urbanisation and demand for transport, industrial, and commercial amenities," it said. Coastal areas, vital to India's industrial economy, have also experienced rising pollution despite the moderating effects of land-sea breezes. This increase is attributed to growing shipping emissions and overall industrial growth in cities such as Mundra, Surat, Mumbai, Goa, Mangalore, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Haldia.

Study traces 60% PM2.5 pollution in India to residential cooking, power generation, industries

It is a known fact that India’s capital <keyword id="6358777" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="New-Delhi">New Delhi</keyword> is facing a crisis when it comes to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=delhi+air+pollution">air pollution</a>, to an extent that it was one and a half times worse than the pollution levels in Beijing over the past week. 
 
Recently, an Indiaspend analysis of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/This-is-how-bad-Delhis-pollution-is-and-its-goingto-get-worse-if-we-do-nothing-about-it/articleshow/50140542.cms">PM 2.5 concentration levels</a> found that "the average weekly PM 2.5 concentration in <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=delhi">Delhi's</a> air was 230.9 micrograms per cubic metre (g/m³), giving it a 'very poor' rating of air quality under the guidelines of the Central Pollution Control Bureau (CPCB). This rating means that it could lead to 'respiratory illness on prolonged exposure'. 
 
Another study by the Kolkata-based Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI) shows that nearly half of Delhi’s school children suffer from permanent lung damage while around 10,000 people will die prematurely from air-pollution in Delhi. 
 Additionally, the hazardous <keyword id="68139" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Smog">smog</keyword> which engulfed the city in the past few days reducing visibility down to about 200 metres has also forced a handful number of residents to move out of Delhi or atleast contemplate living somewhere which doesn’t resemble ‘living in a gas chamber.’ 
 
Even as the dangers of breathing the polluted air looms right in front of the citizens residing in what is being considered as the most polluted cities in the world, why then are they so blithe in taking steps to protect themselves from the choking air? 
 
Granted, the sale of air purifiers are on the rise with more and more people bringing it in their homes in a bid to chase clean air to breathe, but it should be kept in mind that air purifiers work only indoors, not outdoors. 
 <keyword id="3171236" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="anti-pollution-masks">Anti-pollution masks</keyword> are widely considered the easiest way for an individual to protect themselves from not just dust but also contaminants present in the air, but in the city of Delhi, residents using such masks are still a rarity. 
 
The reason for this is undoubtedly the lack of awareness. Anish Kapoor from Shiva Industries which makes a variety of anti-pollution masks (used even by the Delhi police) available online says that there has been no change in his sales numbers as people are least bothered about masks. 
 
“Not only are they not aware of the dire consequences of the pollution, but they are also quite unaware of the existence of anti-pollution masks and where to get them. The fact that wearing a mask is not considered ‘cool’ doesn’t help either,” Kapur states. 
 
The anti-pollution masks are available both online and offline. They can be bought from chemists and from Select City Walk and shops in Khan Market, being judiciously priced from Rs 180 to Rs 750. There are designer varieties as well, which are priced Rs 2,000 onwards. 
 
According to Vikas Yadav, shopkeeper at Khan Market whose medical store sells about 20-30 masks on a good day, the majority of people who buy them are either people with existing respiratory illness or foreigners. 
 
“I expected more people to buy the masks considering how difficult breathing has become in the city, but unfortunately sales have been maegre,” Yadav summed up. 
 
He is of the belief that for the situation to improve, it is imperative that the government takes steps to educate the people on the importance of these masks and the dire effects of the air quality in the city. 
 
Image credit: Indiatimes

Pollution in Delhi is
increasing, but the demand for anti-pollution masks is not- here’s why

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="55910" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Air-Pollution">Air pollution</keyword> was a cause of 9-year-old Ella Kissi-Debrah's <keyword id="6355784" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="death">death</keyword>, a <keyword id="6354868" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="UK">UK</keyword> coroner ruled Wednesday.</li><li>She died of an asthma attack in 2013.</li><li>It's the first time air <keyword id="13001" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="pollution">pollution</keyword> will be listed on a death certificate.</li><li>Nitrogen dioxide emissions and harmful airborne particles where Kissi-Debrah lived exceeded legal limits. These pollutants can <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/types-of-pollution-health-effects-2019-3">exacerbate asthma</a>.</li></ul>Seven years after 9-year-old Londoner Ella Kissi-Debrah suffered a fatal asthma attack, her death is making history. On Wednesday, coroner Philip Barlow ruled that air pollution killed the little girl. "Her death certificate will now become the first in the world to list air pollution as a cause of death," <a href="https://twitter.com/lunguk/status/1339194996436635648">the British Lung Foundation tweeted</a>. London mayor Sadiq Khan called it a <a href="https://twitter.com/sadiqkhan/status/1339183988594925570">"landmark moment."</a> Kissi-Debrah's mother, Rosamund, waged a long fight to get justice for her daughter and highlight the UK's air pollution problem. In 2014, experts determined that Ella had died of acute respiratory failure. But Rosamund pushed for another inquiry into her child's death, and her lawyers submitted evidence that air pollution levels where the family lived exceeded limits set by the European Union. This pollution, they maintained, played a role in Ella's fatal health problems. The coroner agreed: Barlow intends to list acute respiratory failure, severe asthma, and air pollution exposure as her causes of death, <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/courts/coroner-rules-air-pollution-played-part-in-ella-kissi-debrah-death/ar-BB1bYr9U?li=BBoPWjQ">PA Media reported</a>. "Air pollution was a significant contributory factor to both the induction and exacerbation of her asthma," Barlow said at the conclusion of the inquiry, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/16/uk/air-pollution-death-ella-kissi-debrah-uk-gbr-intl/index.html">according to CNN</a>. He noted car and truck exhaust as the primary source of pollutants. <h2>Seizures, hospital visits, and crippling health problems</h2> <div type="image" title="Rosamud Kissi-Debrah pollution death" height="3452" width="4603" msid="79788238" hostid="261"></div>When Ella was six, Rosamund rushed her to the hospital during a coughing fit. Doctors had to put Ella in a medically induced coma for three days. Over the next three years, Ella visited the hospital 26 more times for acute asthma and seizures. Rosamund said her daughter was disabled by 2012 and had to be carried piggyback-style to get around, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-55330945">the BBC reported</a>. Ella died on February 5, 2013. According to Stephen Holgate, a respiratory physician at Southampton General Hospital, the girl's asthma episodes were worse in the winter, when pollution levels spiked near her home on South Circular Road - one of the busiest roads in south London. He told the Southwark Coroner's Court, which oversaw the inquiry into Ella's death, that the cumulative effect of continuously breathing in toxic air caused her fatal asthma attack, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/16/girls-death-contributed-to-by-air-pollution-coroner-rules-in-landmark-case">the Guardian reported</a>. <h2>'Unlawful levels of air pollution'</h2> In a <a href="https://www.itv.com/news/2019-05-02/high-court-to-decide-on-new-inquest-over-girls-air-pollution-death">2018 report</a>, Holgate found that air pollution levels at a monitoring station one mile from Kissi-Debrah's home consistently exceeded legal limits set by the European Union and the World Health Organization between 2010 and 2013. Holgate's report said "that without unlawful levels of air pollution, Ella would not have died." That finding informed Barlow's assessment, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/16/uk/air-pollution-death-ella-kissi-debrah-uk-gbr-intl/index.html">CNN reported</a>. "During the course of her illness between 2010 and 2013, she was exposed to levels of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter in excess of <keyword id="6366244" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="who">WHO</keyword> guidelines," Barlow concluded, according to CNN. He added that the failure to get those levels below legal limits during the three years before Kissi-Debrah's fatal asthma attack may have contributed to her death. <div type="image" title="The Bronx pollution" height="1333" width="1777" msid="79788240" hostid="261"></div>London mayor Sadiq Khan <a href="https://twitter.com/sadiqkhan/status/1339183988594925570">tweeted</a> that Barlow's decision should be "a turning point" in the city's push to curb emissions, adding that "toxic air pollution is a public-health crisis." <h2>Air pollution kills 8.8 million people per year</h2>Factories and gas-powered vehicles produce air pollutants like nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and hydrocarbons. These chemicals can react with sunlight to create smog, which lowers air quality to unhealthy levels. Kissi-Debrah is not the first person to die from air pollution - it causes an estimated <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/types-of-pollution-health-effects-2019-3">8.8 million deaths annually</a> worldwide. <a href="https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/advance-article/doi/10.1093/eurheartj/ehz135/5372326">One study</a> showed that nearly 800,000 Europeans died from air pollution-related issues in 2015 alone. As of last year, <a href="https://www.who.int/airpollution/en/">91% of the world's population</a> lived in places where the air quality did not meet the WHO's safety standards. <div type="image" title="Woman smog skyline pollution mask" height="1414" width="2121" msid="79788241" hostid="261"></div>Studies conducted in <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26453943">China</a> and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20123607">Canada</a> show that children who breathe poor air are more likely to have breathing difficulties and asthma. <a href="https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-017-0210-z">A study involving New York City schoolchildren</a> also found that kids who breathe unhealthy air are more likely to need academic intervention. Research in the US <a href="http://www.nber.org/papers/w24970">shows that dementia and cognitive decline rates</a> are higher in places with more air pollution as well. Most air pollution comes in the form of methane and carbon-dioxide emissions from burning coal, <a>oil</a>, and <a>natural gas</a>. These fossil fuels can <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/fossil-fuels-dirty-facts">also emit pollutants</a> like benzene, a chemical linked to childhood leukemia and blood disorders, and formaldehyde, which is a carcinogen. <div type="image" title="Tuttle holds the inhaler for her son at their rental home in Steilacoom" height="3204" width="4285" msid="79788242" hostid="261"></div>When sunlight interacts with pollutants, chemical reactions can create ground-level ozone, a type of ozone that can trigger a <a href="https://www.epa.gov/ozone-pollution/health-effects-ozone-pollution">variety of breathing problems</a>, particularly for children and the elderly, <a href="https://www.epa.gov/ground-level-ozone-pollution/ground-level-ozone-basics#wwh">according to the Environmental Protection Agency</a>. Breathing in ground-level ozone can reduce a person's lung function and harm lung tissue, exacerbating conditions like emphysema and asthma.

A 9-year-old girl's death certificate will be 'the first in the world' to list air pollution as a cause after a fatal asthma attack

Best anti pollution face wash

<ul><li>The Supreme Court on Monday slammed authorities for failing to curb pollution in Delhi-NCR and said they have left people to die.</li><li>Here is what we should do according to doctors </li></ul>Delhi-NCR is under a thick blanket of smog, after pollution levels peaked to a three-year high on Sunday. The Supreme Court on Monday slammed authorities for failing to curb pollution in Delhi-NCR and said they have left people to die. With pollution crisis level continuing to stay between ‘severe and emergency’ , doctors advise people to stay indoors and take numerous precautions. Here is what we should do according to doctors: <ul><li>Try to stay indoors, step out only if necessary </li></ul>People should stay indoors and step out of the house only if necessary. People should avoid outdoor physical activities including walking, jogging and exercising especially during morning and late evening hours. “It is better to avoid exercise and to go out only when the sun is there and the weather is better,” said Dr Randeep Guleria AIIMS Director. <ul><li>Use mask when stepping out of your house </li></ul>Some of the precautionary methods would be to wear a mask while going outside and the right mask needs to be worn. “I would advise to avoid surgical and comfort masks as it doesn't allow proper respiratory protection. A respirator that is rated N95/N99/FFP3 or is 'NIOSH Approved' that filters out more, should be used," Dr Arvind Kumar, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said. <ul><li>Drink more water </li></ul>"Keeping the body hydrated is the foremost thing in these times, and drinking more water would be advisable. One could also consume vegetable juice and fruit juice," Dr Arvind Kumar, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said. <ul><li>Keep an allergy kit ready </li></ul>“People should also prepare allergy kits with required medicines, inhalers and nebulisers, if any family member has a respiratory illness,” Dr Arvind Kumar, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said. (With agencies) See more: <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="71890060" title="SC says bring environmental experts to court within 30 mins over Delhi air crisis" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

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Here is what doctors say you should do in the event of air pollution

New Delhi, Exposure to <keyword id="55910" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="air-pollution" source="Orion">air pollution</keyword>, even at relatively low levels, is associated with women giving birth to smaller babies, according to a study. The research, to be presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress in Milan, Italy from September 9-13, also shows that women living in greener areas give birth to bigger babies and this may help counteract the effects of pollution. There is a strong relationship between birthweight and lung health, with low birthweight children facing a higher risk of asthma and higher rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) as they grow older, the researchers said. There is a need to reduce air pollution and make towns and cities greener to help protect babies and their developing lungs from potential harm, they said. The study was based on data from the Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE) study and presented by Robin Mzati Sinsamala, a researcher at the University of Bergen (UiB), Norway. It included 4,286 children and their mothers living in five European countries -- Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Estonia. The researchers gauged the greenness of the areas where the women were living during pregnancy by measuring the density of vegetation on satellite images. This vegetation includes forests and farmland as well as parks in urban areas. They also used data on five pollutants: nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone, black carbon, and two types of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10). The average levels of air pollution were within European Union standards. Researchers compared this information with the babies' birthweights, taking account of factors that are known to affect birthweight, such as mother's age, whether the mothers smoked or had any other health conditions. They found that higher levels of air pollution were linked with lower birthweights, with small particulate matter PM2.5, relatively bigger pollution particles PM10, NO2 and black carbon associated with average reductions in birth weight of 56, 46, 48 and 48 grammes, respectively. When researchers took greenness into account, the effect of air pollution on birthweight was reduced. Women who lived in greener areas had babies with slightly higher birth weight -- 27 grammes heavier on average -- than mothers living in less green areas. "The time when babies are growing in the womb is critical for lung development. We know that babies with lower birthweight are susceptible to chest infections, and this can lead on to problems like asthma and COPD later on," Sinsamala said. "Our results suggest that pregnant women exposed to air pollution, even at relatively low levels, give birth to smaller babies. They also suggest that living in a greener area could help counteract this effect," the researcher added. The team noted that it could be that green areas tend to have lower traffic or that plants help to clear the air of pollution, or green areas may mean it is easier for pregnant women to be physically active.

Air pollution linked to lower birth weight in babies, says new European study

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11932995" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="pollution" source="Orion">Pollution</keyword> levels in New Delhi, <keyword id="11892747" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>, have been dangerously high these past two weeks.</li><li>Schools were told to shut for a week from Monday and construction work was banned for three days.</li></ul>Authorities in India plan to enforce a new lockdown to combat <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/new-delhi-toxic-air-worse-people-ignore-ban-diwali-fireworks-2021-11">air pollution in New Delhi</a>, the world's most polluted capital city.Pollution levels in some parts of city have registered off the charts several times over the past fortnight. On Tuesday, the air quality index <a href="https://app.cpcbccr.com/AQI_India/">scored 437 out of a maximum 500 points.</a>Indian cities have long struggled with pollution, but levels spike each winter as fumes from farmers burning their crops mix with pollution from cars and industrial plants, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-business-india-air-pollution-smog-942e06b34db27af794a269d5fa95c7cd">the Associated Press reported.</a>At an emergency meeting Tuesday, New Delhi officials said they were planning a weekend lockdown and work-from-home order to counter the issue. "We have proposed a weekend lockdown, we are ready for it. Our strategy will depend on the court's directions now," Gopal Rai, the Delhi minister for environment, forest, and wildlife, <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/delhi-air-pollution-wfh-among-delhis-proposals-to-fight-pollution-day-after-supreme-court-rap-2612701">told NDTV.</a> The declaration follows that taken by the New Delhi government on Saturday, which said schools would shut for a week from Monday and that construction workers must stay at home for three days from Sunday, <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/delhi-schools-shut-for-a-week-construction-ban-for-3-days/articleshow/87693564.cms">the Times of India reported.</a>On Monday, India's Supreme Court said it advised authorities to outlaw all nonessential road travel and make people work from home, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-top-court-orders-work-home-over-pollution-capital-2021-11-15/">Reuters reported.</a>The Supreme Court is set to vote on which measures to impose, NDTV said.A fresh lockdown in New Delhi would come hot on the heels of the region's COVID-19 lockdown that only <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fauci-urged-india-to-impose-covid-lockdown-modi-refused-2021-5">ended in May</a>.At the COP26 climate summit in the UK last week, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was initially praised after pledging that India would cut emissions to net zero by 2070.However, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-59286790">the country changed its plan</a> at the last minute to "phase out" coal use to "phase down" coal use, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-59280241">angering climate activists and multiple politicians.</a>

Authorities in India are planning a new lockdown not to combat COVID-19, but air pollution

In a bid to curb soaring urban <keyword id="55910" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Air-Pollution">air pollution</keyword>, the government is all set to force all commercial trucks more than 15 years old off the road from April and is reviewing how it checks vehicle emissions, said a senior transport official. 
 Last year, the World Health Organization said last year that India had 13 of the 20 most polluted cities on the planet, including the worst offender, New <keyword id="66" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Delhi">Delhi</keyword>. 
 Fumes spewed by a multiplying fleet of commercial vehicles, many of them old and badly maintained, are one of the biggest contributors to air <keyword id="13001" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="pollution">pollution</keyword> nationally: the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) think-tank estimates their share of vehicular emissions at 60 percent. 
 
"We are to make 15 years the end of the life for all commercial vehicles," Vijay Chhibber, the top bureaucrat in the transport ministry, told Reuters, saying the order, not previously reported, would be made public within 10 days and the ban enforced next April. 
 
"It (air pollution) will get worse every year unless we do something." 
 
Hauliers complained such a move would unfairly single them out, while experts said the ban was only a part of the solution. 
 
"Taxes on cars and parking charges should be raised to curtail usage, and public transport should be expanded," said Vivek Chattopadhyay, a pollution expert at the CSE. "Emissions are not just related to age." 
 
Smog has blanketed the New Delhi this week as a global climate summit began in Paris, a reminder of how hard it will be for India to achieve economic growth and prosperity without pollution getting worse.

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