India faces an alarming air pollution crisis, with New Delhi, the nation’s capital, at the epicenter. On Monday, Swiss air quality analytics firm IQAir reported that the PM2.5 level in New Delhi reached 907 µg/m³, marking this year’s worst reading. At one monitoring site, levels spiked to 980 µg/m³, a figure 65 times higher than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 24-hour guideline limit of 15 µg/m³.
New Delhi experiences severe air pollution from late autumn through winter annually. Burning crop residue after harvest accounts for approximately 40% of the pollution.
Due to this pollution, many New Delhi residents reportedly suffer from pharyngitis (sore throat). Pharyngitis is an inflammation of the pharynx and larynx caused by viral or bacterial infections, and it can be acute or chronic.
Acute pharyngitis results from sudden temperature changes, colds, febrile illnesses, overexertion, weakened immune systems, or bacterial infections. Chronic pharyngitis arises from repeated acute infections, excessive smoking or drinking, overwork, consuming irritating foods, vocal strain, or laryngopharyngeal reflux disease.
Exposure to irritating gases, chemicals, or chemical vapors, or the spread of inflammation from adjacent areas like the sinuses, can also lead to pharyngitis.
In its early stages, pharyngitis causes a dry throat, a sense of a foreign body, and mild coughing. If it worsens, symptoms may include difficulty swallowing due to pain, high fever, headaches, general fatigue, and loss of appetite. If the inflammation spreads to the larynx, it can also cause bad breath, a coated tongue, and hoarseness. Patients may also experience ear pain and difficulty speaking clearly.
In acute cases, initial symptoms include a dry, sore throat and fever with severe swallowing pain. Coughing, sputum production, decreased appetite, and constipation may also occur.
Chronic cases present with a dry, painful, and itchy throat, with symptoms worsening during fatigue, leading to a hoarse and quieter voice.
In India, the situation is so severe that air pollution-related diseases claim around 1 million lives annually. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) among air pollutants is particularly harmful, as it can cause heart and lung diseases.
Short-term exposure can exacerbate symptoms such as asthma attacks, acute bronchitis, and arrhythmias. Prolonged exposure to high levels of fine particulate matter increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, respiratory illnesses, and lung cancer.
When fine particulate matter enters the body, it generates reactive oxygen species that accelerate cellular aging and inflammatory responses. The impact extends beyond the respiratory system, affecting various organs throughout the body.
Sensitive groups, including pregnant women, infants, children, the elderly, and individuals with cardiovascular or respiratory conditions, face higher risks from fine particulate matter exposure.
Older people are particularly susceptible due to age-related weakened immune systems and the likelihood of undiagnosed heart and lung conditions.
Prolonged exposure to fine particulate matter ultimately leads to respiratory symptoms such as coughing, reduced lung function, breathing difficulties, chest tightness, wheezing, and asthma flare-ups.
Due to vascular dysfunction, cardiovascular symptoms like chest pressure, pain, palpitations, and shortness of breath may occur. Other effects include skin allergies like itching and burning, atopic dermatitis, pain, and dry eyes.
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