Apart from inhaling dust and other air pollutants, Bengalureans are inhaling a lot of unburnt gases emitted from autorickshaws and cars running on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) nowadays.
Pulmonologists said the inhalation of unburnt gases is also dangerous. They have found that children staying near main roads and highways are more prone to respiratory problems.
The Transport department officials said there are over 56 lakh vehicles in the City and among them, more than one lakh autorickshaws and one lakh cars run on CNG. KSPCB Chairman Vaman Acharya said people can smell gas at traffic signals because of improper combustion from ill-maintained and old vehicles.
Paediatrician and Pulmonologist Dr H Paramesh said, “We have observed that children whose homes and schools are located on or near busy roads and highways, have more respiratory problems. Breathing problems among children aged between 5 and 10 is four times more among those whose homes or schools are located near busy roads, compared with children staying in bylanes.” On an average, around 50 children aged between 3 and 18 visit paediatric pulmonologists every day. But what is most shocking is that about 25 among them are new children who complain of breathing problems, wheezing, sinus coughing, cold, middle ear problem and allergies which are gradually leading to asthma and pneumonia, he added.
Dr Hemanth Kumar M, pulmonologist, Hosmat Hospital, said increased air pollution causes bronchitis and emphysema. This can start at any age, but is now being noticed in small children, he added.
Paediatric Pulmonoligist of Narayana Hrudayalaya Dr Anilkumar Sapre said he gets around 25-30 patients everyday. Parents complain that their child was fine during vacation, while visiting their native places but fell ill soon after returning to school.
The number of cases of children with wheezing and respiratory problems has increased in the last three days, especially since schools started. This shows that Bengaluru air is polluted and three-fourth of the problem is because of poorly maintained vehicles and gases in the atmosphere, he said.