Pollution driving disease, death in Kashmir

Srinagar, Dec 8: For nearly two weeks, Kashmir’s air quality has been consistently “unhealthy” for a major part of the day every day.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) of various monitoring locations has crossed 150 across the week.

Once known for the pristine air, Kashmir now has a hazardous brew to breathe, the gaseous cocktail silently claiming lives.

Microscopic particulate matter (PM2.5) levels have been around 150 micrograms per cubic meter.

This level is well beyond the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines of healthy air.

Moreover, PM10 readings over 200 μg/m³ have been recorded by air quality monitoring labs through satellite imaging as well as on ground pollution monitoring stations.

The smog that covers Kashmir is not just a visibility concern but a major reason for a surge in diseases and premature deaths.

Many global studies have amply shown how pollution causes death and disease in people of Kashmir and in other parts of the world.

Pulmonologists estimate that around 10,000 deaths in J&K are attributable to air pollution.

These deaths take place due to respiratory and cardiovascular ailments, with air pollution being the major risk factor.

Fine particles infiltrate lungs and bloodstreams, triggering asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), lung cancer, and even strokes.

Kashmir has the highest burden of COPD in India.

According to Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2016, J&K ranks among the highest in crude COPD prevalence.

Approximately 8 percent of the population, or nearly 20 percent of people over the age of 40 years suffer from COPD.

The national crude rate of COPD is 4.2 percent.

This chasm in prevalence translates into heightened mortality and loss of life years to disability.

In J&K, cardiovascular diseases are the primary cause of death, followed by COPD.

According to a study, ‘Association of long-term exposure to particulate air pollution with cardiovascular events in California,’ long-term exposure to air pollution increases the risk of ischemic heart disease by up to 20 percent.

The study ‘PM2.5 air pollution and cause-specific cardiovascular diseases mortality’ shows how a 10 micrograms increment in particulate matter in ambient air multiplies the risk of heart diseases.

Lung cancer, a major killer, has the highest incidence in district Srinagar, which incidentally, also has the highest levels of pollution.

In districts like Pulwama, smoke from brick kilns, dust from cement factories, and highway constructions have kept the air heavily loaded, exacerbating the issue.

Head Department of Pulmonology, GMC Srinagar, Prof Naveed Nazir Shah said, while it is common to associate a bout of cough and cold with pollution and dust in the air, it is often ignored how the particulate matter affects people in the long term.

“Pollution causes diseases, deaths, even damage to unborn babies,” he said.

Kashmir’s unique geography, walled by Pir Panjal and the Greater Himalayas, creates a natural trap for pollutants.

During winter temperature inversions, air mixing retards, creating a thick smog layer.

Dry weather exacerbates the crisis.

Over the past fortnight, various AQI monitoring websites and mobile applications have shown the air quality of Srinagar, Jammu, and many other towns to be “unhealthy”.

Lull in winds, freezing temperatures, and weak Western Disturbances have allowed the haze to remain undisturbed.

Emissions from firewood burning in Hamams, wood bukharis, wood burning for charcoal, vehicle exhaust, and clouds of dust from under construction projects fuels the toxic air.

A recent study of the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) shows J&K’s AQI exceeds National Ambient Air Quality Standards (40 μg/m³) and WHO limits (5 μg/m³), particularly in winter and post-monsoon periods.