(Ex-Principal King Edward Medical University Lahore and Allama Iqbal Medical College Lahore)
Interviewer: Hadia Batool
Hadia: Salam Dr.Sahb!
Prof. Dr. Iftikhar Ahmed: Wasalam!
Hadia: Sir! Lets have a discussion on
effects of pollution on human health.
Prof. Dr. Iftikhar Ahmed: Sure.
Hadia: Sir! As you are a well experienced doctor treating patients for
many years. What kind of pollution related case you have seen in
your life and how many were life threatening.
Prof. Dr. Iftikhar Ahmed: In my span of treating patients, I
have seen many patients affected by pollution. Mostly they were affected by
land and water pollution. Some were also ill due to noise and radioactive
pollution. People are mostly ill of diarrhea, cholera, dysentery and
respiratory infections. Cholera, diarrhea and dysentery are primarily caused by
poor hygienic condition, flies from heaps of garbage and from polluted
contaminated water. Severe cases of cholera are mostly fatal. Air pollution
causes respiratory problems.
Hadia: What are the main toxics produced by
air pollution and what is their impact on human health?
Prof. Dr. Iftikhar Ahmed: Air pollution is very for human health. Toxins like sulphur oxides,
carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides etc. are found in air in huge amount polluting
air.The air pollution can cause diseases like asthma, allergies, and lung
cancer
Hadia: What effect has smoking on health?
Prof. Dr. Iftikhar Ahmed: One of
the most common and toxic indoor air pollutants is cigarette smoke. Experts
believe about 90% of lung cancers are caused by cigarette smoke.Smoking, or
even inhaling secondhand smoke, increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.Tobacco smoke contains many chemicals, some of which are known to cause cancer. If you are a nonsmoker and household members or coworkers will not stop smoking around you, ask that they smoke only in well-ventilated or isolated areas. Never smoke around children or allow them to be exposed to cigarette smoke, especially if they have asthma or allergies.
Hadia: Does only exposure to cigarette also affects human health?
Prof. Dr. Iftikhar Ahmed: Exposure to cigarette smoke causes wheezing, coughing, and extra mucus (phlegm) in many children. Secondhand smoke also can cause fluid to build up in the inner ear, which can cause ear infections. Lower respiratory infections, such as pneumonia and bronchitis, are also risks. Sometimes these types of infections become serious enough to require a hospital stay, especially when they develop in babies and young children.
Babies who are exposed to secondhand smoke are at increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Cigarette smoke may cause asthma in children. Also, children with asthma who are exposed to cigarette smoke have more attacks and more severe symptoms than other children with asthma.
Hadia: Sir! What are the preventive measures of saving yourself from pollution?
Prof. Dr. Iftikhar Ahmed: If we follow the following basic
ways we can prevent ourselves much from pollution.
Stop smoking or at least follow the “No Smoking” sign.Use unleaded gasoline in
your cars. Keep your car properly maintained to keep it in good running condition
to avoid smoke emissions.Share a ride or engage in car pooling. Instead of using your cars, choose to walk
or ride a bicycle whenever possible. With this eco-friendly practice, you will
also be healthier and happier by staying fit. Never use open fires to dispose
of wastes. Start composting brown leaves in your yard and green scraps from
your kitchen. It will reduce waste while improving your yard and garden soils.
Reconnect with nature. Live green by using green power supplied abundantly
and freely by wind and the sun. Hang your laundry to dry to minimize use of gas
or electricity from your dryers. Enjoy fresh air from open windows to lessen
the use of air conditioning system. Use eco-friendly or biodegradable materials
instead of plastic which are made up of highly toxic substances injurious to
your health. Create your green space. Value your garden. Plant more trees and put
indoor plants in your homes. They clean the air, provide oxygen and beautify
your surrounding. Thus, care for them and by protecting them, especially the
big trees around and in the forest, you protect yourself and your family, too.
Have a proper waste disposal system especially for toxic wastes.Take very good
care of your pets and their wastes.
Never throw, run or drain or dispose into the water, air, or land any
substance in solid, liquid or gaseous form that shall cause pollution. Do not cause loud noises and unwanted sounds
to avoid noise pollution. Do not litter in public places. Anti-litter campaigns
can educate the populace. Industries
should use fuel with lower sulphur content. Industries should monitor their air
emissions regularly and take measures to ensure compliance with the prescribed
emission standards. Industries should strictly follow applicable government
regulations on pollution control.
Hadia:I will also definitely follow these
way and will ask people to do the same.Thank you Sir for giving your precious
time and concern.
Prof. Dr. Iftikhar Ahmed: My pleasure,you are always welcome.
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