India: Air Pollution Alarm in New Delhi-Schools Closed (vid) | Skai.gr

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Deteriorating air quality in India’s capital, New Delhi, has led to an increase in chronic respiratory illnesses among children, such as asthma, and prolonged exposure to deadly pollutants threatens to impair their cognitive development. doctors.

Infection has risen to dangerous levels across New Delhi and other parts of northern India this month.

Most days the Air Quality Index was above 451 on a scale with a maximum of 500, which refers to “very bad” and “serious” conditions, which affect even healthy people and severely affect those with subjects. diseases, in accordance with the instructions of the Federal Council for Infection Control.

The indicator measures the concentration of hazardous particulate matter (PM2.5) in micrograms per cubic meter of air.

The government calls the price of PM2.5 “safe” at 60 micrograms per cubic meter of air over a 24-hour period.

A rapid increase in the incidence of respiratory diseases among children in the Indian capital has raised concerns among doctors and parents.

The number of children with respiratory illnesses has tripled in the last seven to ten days, said Arvid Budra, head of the pediatric ward at Max Super Specialty Hospital.

“This is directly related to the high levels of pollution observed in the capital and its metropolitan area …,” Boudra said, referring to the National Capital Territory of Delhi, which includes the surrounding cities.

According to Pravin Kilnani, director of Madhukar Rainbow Pediatric Hospital, there has been a significant increase in the number of cases with respiratory problems.

While most children are transported to outpatient clinics, some need oxygen and intensive care, he explained.

Prolonged exposure to pollutants, including lead, can lead to even more serious complications.

“There are some studies that show that the cognitive functions of the brain (among children) are also affected by these very small particles,” Bundra said.

Dangerous levels of air pollution forced the government of New Delhi last night, Tuesday night, to close the schools of the Indian capital until recently and to invite its residents to work from home.

On Saturday, the municipality had ordered the closure of schools for a week and had banned any operation of the construction sites for four days.

Last night the committee in charge of air quality in New Delhi ordered the closure of schools until further notice.

Heavy vehicles are not allowed to enter the Indian capital until November 21, with the exception of those carrying basic necessities, and work is suspended at most construction sites, according to the decree.

Anti-pollution machines and sprayers will be put into operation at least three times a day in the neighborhoods most affected by pollution.

Also, 6 of the 11 thermal power plants located within a radius of 300 kilometers were called to stop operating until further notice.

The committee also announced that at least half of the workers should be put to teleworking and that private sector workers are being asked to do the same.

The measures were taken 24 hours after the New Delhi government decided not to accept a request from the Supreme Court for “quarantine due to pollution”.

This air pollution comes from, among other things, from the smoke from the burning of agricultural residues in neighboring states.

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