The air quality in Mumbai has reached alarming levels, with a doctor comparing it to smoking 1,000 cigarettes in a short span of time. While pollution in Delhi has been widely discussed, Mumbai’s air quality has largely gone unnoticed. However, the situation in the financial capital is so severe that a hospital had to set up a special Intensive Respiratory Care Unit to treat patients with respiratory issues.
Despite Mumbai’s geographical advantage of being located on the coast and surrounded by water on three sides, the city is still struggling with high pollution levels. NDTV visited the special respiratory ICU at Global Hospitals in Central Mumbai’s Parel and discovered that the number of patients with respiratory problems has doubled in the past six months.
Dr. Prashant Borade, the Director of the Department of Critical Care at Global Hospitals, revealed that they have been witnessing patients reporting breathlessness even after recovering from a lung infection. These patients are then diagnosed with lung inflammation or hyperacute airway diseases. Almost 50% of patients with respiratory symptoms visiting the Outpatient Department have to be admitted for at least one or two days, and around 30% require ICU admission. Cases of lung cancer are also on the rise.
Dr. Borade attributed these health issues to air pollution. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Mumbai has been increasing daily, along with the concentration of particulate matter smaller than 10 microns. These tiny particles easily enter the lungs and cause respiratory problems. The doctor emphasized that inhaling this polluted air is equivalent to smoking 1,000 cigarettes in a short period of time.
The hospital has seen a 100% increase in patients with respiratory illnesses, including those without any previous lung conditions. Dr. Borade expressed concern about young patients being affected and admitted to the ICU. He also warned that long-term exposure to polluted air could lead to heart diseases, heart attacks, and slightly increased cases of lung cancer.
The doctor advised individuals with chronic lung conditions, such as bronchitis, asthma, or lung damage, to wear masks when outdoors. This recommendation also applies to the elderly, immunosuppressed individuals, and those with diabetes and cancer. Dr. Borade advised against evening walks and suggested opting for early morning walks in green areas instead.
In addition to the health impact, NDTV found construction violations at the flagship coastal road project, a Maharashtra government initiative. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, responsible for the project, was found to be violating its own pollution guidelines. The guidelines require construction sites to cover materials and use tarpaulin during transportation. They also stipulate the height of barricades and the use of water sprinklers to prevent dust from spreading. However, at the construction site in Haji Ali, NDTV discovered that most of these guidelines were being flouted.
The average AQI in Mumbai was around 200 on Tuesday, while Delhi’s figure was above 400. This alarming situation calls for immediate action to address the worsening air quality in Mumbai.
