Living in a polluted environment will make you sick

The World Health Organisation released some scary data on Tuesday.

The global authority on health matters stated that 12.6 million people died in 2012 from the effects of unhealthy and polluted environments.

The report titled ‘Preventing disease through healthy environments: a global assessment of the burden of disease from environmental risks’ states that 2.2 million Africans died of non-communicable diseases linked to pollution.

The scientists who conducted the five-year research declared that diseases such as stroke, heart disease, cancer and chronic respiratory disease accounted for two-thirds of the total deaths caused by pollution.

Most people know that tobacco smoking increases one’s risk of developing lung cancer, but few are aware of the fact that dirty air can also predispose one to the disease.

It may interest you to know that after reviewing the number of people affected by air pollution in 2014, the International Agency for Cancer Research concluded that breathing in dirty and polluted air is as dangerous as inhaling tobacco smoke.

The IACR stated that air pollution was an official cause of many forms of cancer especially that of the lungs.

Doctors warned that as pollution levels increase especially in urban areas, more people would suffer from heart diseases and strokes.

They warned that some compounds in the air we breathed, such as petrol and diesel exhausts, were toxic and had the same effect on the heart and lungs as dangerous chemicals.

Chest Physician, Dr. James Chukwu, explained that the accumulation of dirt and pollutants in the lungs through the air we breathed from the environment could damage the lungs and other vital organs in the chest region.

He stated, “Breathing dirty air can lead to cancer. Dust in the air, pollutants from generators in our homes, from our cars, and other industrial activities in the environment that we breathe in and out of the body can damage the lungs, arteries, block blood circulation and even cause sudden death.

“The complex mixture of gases, fine particles and other pollutants in the air are carcinogenic to humans. And the effect of polluted air starts in the lungs before it spreads to the blood vessels and other parts of the chest.

“Indoor and outdoor air pollution is a leading cause of cancer in cities, and we must all make a collective effort to limit our exposure to them especially to children.”

Because we breathe regularly without any effort, it is easy to take the importance of the lung as a major respiratory organ for granted until it fails.

There is only one way to stop this from happening: Clean up the air. It may sound simple, but it is actually difficult to practise especially for those living in a country like Nigeria, where environmental policies are not enforced.

Doctors said with the looming cancer crises, individuals must continue to look for effective ways to minimise their risk to environmental and air pollution.

Chukwu recommended that people should embrace alternative sources of energy.

The physician said, “If you at present use generators, you should consider using solar energy sources like the inverters. That way, you are not burning any fuel.

“If you live in an area where there are too many industrial activities, you should consider moving to another environment.

“If you have children, you must limit their exposure to environmental pollution both at home and in school. Air pollution is worse in children because it increases their risk of developing asthma, pneumonia and other cancers of the blood and the lungs.”

Indoor pollution, according to the scientists, also increases the risk of bladder cancer which accounts for 10,000 deaths every year in the world.

Apart from the long-term solutions, here are some daily steps we can take to reduce our exposure to pollutants:

Conserve energy: Saving energy at home is one of the easiest ways to reduce air pollution. It is important to turn off all appliances and lights if there is no one in the room. Less energy use means less carbon dioxide emission from power plants that help to produce energy. Opting to buy energy-conserving products will not only use less energy, but also save you money while you reduce air pollutants inside your home. These products will ensure that fossil fuels are not burned as much, which results in less pollution in the air.

Refuel in the evening: Filling your car’s gas tank in the evening can cut down evaporation emissions that can reduce outside air pollutants. The EPA advises drivers to not refuel their cars during Ozone Action Days as cars and trucks account for a third of air pollution in the country.

Smoke outside the home: If you have to smoke at all, make sure it is outside. Smoking outside the home instead of indoors can prevent 65 per cent of asthma cases among children.

Secondhand smoke is detrimental to children’s health and can lead to a series of illnesses such as asthma, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome , bronchitis, pneumonia and ear infections.

Remember, quitting will help you and your family to live longer.

Source: Punch Ng