Pune: Proximity to highways ups risk of lung diseases among residents, says study

Pune

: People staying closer to national highways are at increased risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to prolonged exposure to high levels of motor vehicular exhaust particles, gases and road dust, a study involving 3,592 participants in 22 villages near Pune has found.

The study was undertaken by researchers from Pulmocare Research and Education (PURE) Foundation, Pune, and Vadu Rural Health Program, KEM Hospital Research Centre, Pune.

Dr Sundeep Salvi, director, PURE Foundation, said, "Among those less than 100 metres away from the highway, COPD prevalence was found to be 17% higher than those who stayed 400-500 metres away from the highway. The prevalence of COPD in the study was 5.1%, of which 85% were not smokers."

COPD prevalence was studied in 22 villages around Vadu on the Pune-Ahmednagar state highway and the Chakan-Shikrapur road. "Chronic inflammatory lung disease causes obstructed airflow from the lungs. Similar observations have been reported in the past from France, Japan, China and Germany, which showed that residing close (less than 100 metres) 100m) to a major road has a detrimental effect on lung function and can increase the risk of allergic diseases and asthma," Salvi said.

The 3,592 randomly selected participants (men and women) aged above 30 underwent spirometry and answered a questionnaire. Each person's residence was mapped using GPS.

"Nearly 75% of the residents lived in the countryside, over 500 metres from the main roads. In this population, use of biomass fuel for cooking was found to be a major risk factor associated with COPD. In the remaining 25% of the population, who lived closer to the highway and main road, residential proximity to these stretches was strongly associated with the risk of developing COPD," Salvi said.

Those living less than 100 metres from the main road had a significantly greater risk of developing COPD, despite the fact that over 90% of them used LPG for cooking, the researchers found. "Living close to the main roads and highways can also make one more vulnerable to developing various lung ailments, including asthma and, more recently, COPD," Salvi added.

Seema Tanwar, who stays near Nagar Road, told TOI, "Our residential area is constantly in the midst of pollution from traffic and extensive construction activities. People in our society have suffered from serious lung diseases over the years."

Ayurvedic consultant Dr Milind Sathe, a resident of Kothrud who practices in this area and Karve road, said, "There are extensive construction projects going on in these localities. My clinic is just 20 metres from the main road. The dust and pollution have resulted in breathing issues."