Air pollution can cause Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases: Experts

NAGPUR: Not just respiratory diseases, the rising air pollution is responsible for many severe health ailments like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases too.

The revelation took place during the country’s first-of-its-kind dialogue series on ‘Clean Air: Healthy Cities’, which was held by global organization Clean Air Asia in the city on Friday. The discussions at the event, which saw national as well as local experts including doctors, scientists, civic authorities and environmentalists participating, aimed at highlighting a road map for tackling health crisis emerging due to pollution.

Stating that its menace was not restricted to lungs, former assistant director of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute Dr Manas Ranjan Ray stated that air pollution is causing various mental health problems. “After being deposited in the lungs, the inhaled pollutants can enter the bloodstream and attack the brain, which consumes almost 50% of the oxygen we breathe. This can lead to depression, anxiety, dementia and other neurological diseases,” he said.

Diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are on a rise due to pollution, stated city pulmonologist Dr Sameer Arbat. “Enough evidences suggest that pollution is also leading to various heart-related diseases,” he said.

Presenting latest data from Chandrapur, one of the country’s most toxic city, environment activist Yogesh Dudhpachare said that out of 5,540 deaths (2016-17), 1.046 were caused due to respiratory diseases. “Residents of Chandrapur have been suffering miserably due to pollution from last 15 years. The action plans to combat air pollution are not being implemented at the government level,” said Suresh Chopane, founder of NGO Green Planet Society.

He added that the ambient air quality monitoring stations are not installed at the right places, considering the wind direction.

Another critical issue that triggered a debate was the new coal-fired units coming up at Koradi Thermal Power Station (KTPS) and its effect on public health. TOI recently reported that the state cabinet cleared Mahagenco’s proposal to set-up two 660 megawatt units at KTPS. Questioning the move, members of Green Vigil Foundation stated that the project will add to the already-high emission levels of the city.

KV George, senior scientist at the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, explained the effects of pollution generated from thermal power sector. “During post monsoon and winters, the wind from Koradi and Khaparkheda power stations is flowing pre-dominantly towards Nagpur while in summers, its direction is towards Kamptee. To assess the pollution, air quality monitoring stations should be set-up in Kamptee during summers and in the main city during winters,” he said.

The consultation concluded with recognizing a need to consider public health as a key factor when framing policies related to air quality improvement. “It is crucial to discuss health implications as central topic when we talk about air pollution. It is the link which will motivate people to rise up for their right to clean air as well as will help institutions and organizations be more aggressive in taking appropriate actions,” said Prarthana Borah, India director of Clean Air Asia.