An App for Monitoring Air Pollution Effect Soon to Come

by Sanjay Nandy Digital Marketing Manager

Cardiovascular disease is on an alarming rise. In the last 5 years, more people have suffered heart attacks and some of them have succumbed to the disease. Another worrying fact is it is affecting many young people. According to cardiologists, air pollution is one of the contributing factors to the steep rise in the number of heart attack cases.

Several risk factors have been identified for heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases. These factors can be categorized as modifiable, genetic and environmental. Though the first two are often discussed, the third one is usually overlooked. But the recent rise in heart attacks has brought cardiologists and environmentalists to the same table.

Data-Based Approach

A convincing data-based approach is important to establish the correlation between air pollution and health problems. If this is in place, it will bring some serious changes to combat the challenges of air pollution. With more research-based evidence tumbling out, we can stay hopeful about an immediate and comprehensive plan that will take the crisis head-on.

New App for Air Pollution Monitoring

Evidence shows that 30% of the patients suffering cardiac problems are auto-rickshaw and cab drivers. In this worrying scenario, one of the contributing factors is air pollution. Dr Rahul Patil, a cardiologist at the Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, has now revealed about working on an app that can effectively measure the amount of exposure, including dietary timings and lack of physical activity, in population under the ‘vulnerable’ category.

Health practitioners, who know well how air pollution negatively affects people’s health, are deeply concerned about policies as these are not enough to combat the pollution issues. These policies have significant gaps that must be addressed with immediate effect. But for that to happen, presenting evidence-based data is important. This app is supposed to serve the purpose with high accuracy.

Air Purifiers

Avizo is one of the leading manufacturers of good air car purifiers. They also manufacture air purifiers for homes. By installing mini air purifiers in taxis and auto-rickshaws, it will be possible to improve the scenario. Unfortunately, many auto-rickshaws and cab drivers cannot afford the machine, even if it comes at an affordable price from a reputed brand. However, this is a cosmetic solution as it does not address the root cause. Drivers don’t always stay in their cars. Hence, exposure to pollution is an unavoidable reality.

Final Words

With comprehensive and quality data, it will be possible to make a more scientific approach to combatting air pollution. Dr RamachandranThiruvengadam, Department of Biochemistry, Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, believes that it is high time to go beyond the PM 10 and PM 2.5 when studying the health impacts of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

Due to a lack of sufficient data, experts feel it extremely challenging to conduct trials in order to link air pollution and health. They now think it is important to communicate the direct links between air pollution and death. The purpose is to create awareness among people, especially vulnerable groups.

The institutes and policymakers should encourage and establish improved coordination to combat air pollution and on the whole, climate change. They should work together for a clean, green and better future.