They compared the size of the lungs of Indian and US children to understand the effects of smog and pollution

They compared the size of the lungs of Indian and US children to figure out who is most affected by air pollution

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What are the lungs of children who live in particularly polluted areas? A study compared the size of those of New Delhi children and the results are really sobering.

The children most affected by air pollution are the Indians. This is demonstrated by a study conducted by the pulmonologist Prof. SK Chhabra who found a reduced growth of their lungs compared to US children.

The research in question, funded by the ICMR, was published in the Journal of Indian Pediatrics. The scholars found that Indian children have about 10 percent lower lung capacity than US children, as Dr. Chhabra said:

“By the time they reach 18 years of age, the lung capacity of boys and girls is about 10 percent lower than American children. It was also found that the lungs grew at a slower rate, therefore, the maximum size they reached was less. This could partly be due to ethnic differences, genetics, the frequency of childhood infections and nutrition, but environmental factors such as pollution could be another reason. There are many other studies, particularly those conducted on Chinese children, which link retarded growth and reduced lung capacity to air pollution. "

Children are more vulnerable because they apparently breathe faster by absorbing more air and play more outdoors, so they are more exposed to pollutants. Also, since their lungs are still growing, exposure to air pollution hinders and slows their proper development.

Incidentally, smaller lungs increase vulnerability to respiratory diseases. Not surprisingly, in the 10 years between 2003-2004 and 2013-14, hospitalizations in Indian respiratory departments have even increased by almost 80%, according to data from the Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute.

Among other things, numerous studies, such as that of the Yale Global Health Review, have found a notable increase in mortality rates in children in Delhi. The air quality in the Indian capital (but also in many other cities of the country) is in fact very bad, there is talk of a real national health emergency, to the point that the famous researcher Sarath Guttinkinda has invited anyone who has the possibility, to transfer the children elsewhere.

SOURCE: Little India/The Hindu

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