Megha Aryan, OP
There is an urgent need to take precautionary measures to protect your health from air pollution, especially in winter.
As the sleepy city stirs to life amid the smog-filled lanes of Bhubaneswar, Suresh Mohanty, 32, gets on his bicycle. A kettle and a few glasses in a basket are hanging from the handle. His wife rides pillion as he cycles fast to his tea stall near Vani Vihar chowk close to Utkal University.
It’s early morning but the smog has reduced visibility. However, Suresh has only one thing in his mind: to reach before any of his neighbouring tea-stall owners arrive.
After he reaches the tea stall, Suresh switches on a light to alert the passersby that his shop is open. The smog has made visibility very low.
An old couple in their eighties wrap themselves in faded shawls and get ready to sell vegetables to customers at a roadside in Laxmisagar, Bhubaneswar. They always arrive soon after daybreak. Whether it is a wintry day or a smog-filled one, work has to go on.
Newsboys throw rolled sheets of newspapers across the fence, school-going children step out of their homes wrapped in warm clothes to keep out the cold, fitness freaks jog, walk or try laughter therapy in the parks…
Yet another day begins in the capital city. Only the toxic air is a blot on this picture. Smog hangs over the city, affecting visibility.
The director of India Meteorological Department (IMD), Bhubaneswar Sarat Chandra Sahu says: “Smog is often caused by heavy traffic, high temperatures, sunshine and calm winds. These are a few of the factors behind increasing level of air pollution in atmosphere. During the winter months when the wind speeds are low, it helps the smoke and fog to stagnate at a place forming smog and increasing pollution levels near the ground closer to where people are. It hampers visibility and disturbs the environment.”
Sahu explains that the word ‘smog’ is derived from the merging of two words, smoke and fog. It is a yellowish or blackish fog formed mainly by a mixture of pollutants in the atmosphere which consists of fine particles and ground level ozone. Smog, which occurs mainly because of air pollution, can also be defined as a mixture of various gases with dust and water vapour.
The time that smog takes to form depends directly on the temperature, Sahu says. Temperature inversions are situations when warm air does not rise but stays near the ground. During situations of temperature inversions, if the wind is calm, smog may get trapped and remain over a place for days.
Orissa POST interacted with a few morning walkers to find out how they deal with the smog-filled mornings prevailing in the capital city during the winters.
Seema and her friends go for regular morning walks. But if they wake up to smog, they decide to delay the time of their morning walks. “I had heard in the news how badly Delhi was affected by smog and how people had to wear masks to avoid the risk of developing breathing problems in future. One day, I noticed the same weather here in Bhubaneswar; there was smog all around us. First we mistook smog for fog but when we passed through it we realised our eyes were itching and dust seemed to be hanging in the air.”
Biswa, a gym trainer, says: “I reach the gym by six in the morning. It is really difficult for me to ride the bi
ke when there is smog as visibility becomes poor. Even the air we breathe early morning makes me feel sick so I wear a mask.”
Akanksha, a student, says, “Winter spells a lot of trouble for me. I have a breathing problem and I catch cold easily; so the smog is an issue of particular concern for me. My college bus arrives at 6.30 in the morning. I have to walk ten minutes from home to reach the bus stop. I cover my face bef
ore I go out, but I still experience difficulty in breathing sometimes.”
Do’s and Don’ts
Here are a few tips from experts that can help you in smog-filled weather:
- Restrict your outdoor activity as much as possible. Early morning walks and jogs and outings in the late evening in a smog-filled atmosphere will do more harm than good as you could inhale toxic particles in the air. Smog can adversely affect the health of the elderly and chil
dren, in particular. Avoid open air functions during this period. Even if winter may seem ideal for a party outdoors, if there is smog outside, it is not advisable. - People with respiratory problems should consult their doctor if necessary and keep all prescribed medicines and inhalers handy. A sudden rise in pollution can bring on an asthmatic attack. In fact, doctors warn that when there is heavy smog even people who don’t have respiratory disorders may experience shortness of breath.
- If you are staying indoors, there are a few tips you can follow if you feel an irritation in the throat. Smog can facilitate the spread of viral infections from small throat irritation, so it must not be taken lightly. Try to take steam with a few drops of eucalyptus oil in the evening to relax the airpassages. Also, try to include tulsi and haldi in your everyday diet to give your body the extra edge it needs to combat the harmful smog.
- Wear a ma
sk at all time when you are outdoors. Ensure your eyes, nose, mouth, and ears are covered. While this may not be a foolproof method, it certainly limits the amount of toxins we inhale. - Try to consume fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamin C. Lemons, oranges, grapes, papaya, and melons can help to keep you healthy. Vegetables such as peas, cauliflower, cabbage, okra, and capsicumcould be included in your daily food intake.
- Smog can have a potentially harmful effect on the cardiovascular system. Research has found that there is a link between air pollution and heart disease. Hence, it is advised that heart patients or people at risk of heart disease should take extra precautions.
In retrospect
The Great Smog of London is a well-known severe pollution event dating to December 5, 1952 when the residents of London woke up to a hazy morning; yet there was something different about that day. The air was filled with smog and haze making it almost impossible for the people to breathe. It stayed the same for the next four days, bringing the city to a standstill. As many as 4,000 people lost their lives while more than 100,000 were affected severely by the smog. Subsequently, several anti-pollution laws were passed, though air pollution still remains a cause of concern in London.
New York city experienced a similar incident in 1966 when heavy smog covered the city for three days during the Thanksgiving holiday. It led the authorities to take steps to generate awareness about the dangers of air pollution and update air pollution control laws.