A #thread on #DelhiPollution.
The air pollution levels have shot back up in the Delhi area. Many people have been reporting sickness and headaches - but the group most at risk are children from poorer backgrounds.
Read this thread for more #DelhiAir:
The air pollution levels have shot back up in the Delhi area. Many people have been reporting sickness and headaches - but the group most at risk are children from poorer backgrounds.
Read this thread for more #DelhiAir:
We went to a slum in North Delhi last week to see the impact the sky high pollution levels were having on residents there. One NGO worker estimated that 90% of the children there had some sort of breathing problem, including pneumonia.
#DelhiAir #DelhiPollution
#DelhiAir #DelhiPollution
At the slum I met Shabhana with her three month old twins. She told me both have pneumonia, and blames the #DelhiPollution.
She's renting a nebuliser (she can't afford to buy one), so she can pump medicines to their lungs.
"The medicines aren't working, we're desperate."
She's renting a nebuliser (she can't afford to buy one), so she can pump medicines to their lungs.
"The medicines aren't working, we're desperate."
Even indoors, you can't escape from the toxic #Delhiair. #DelhiPollution.
We took a reading at Shabhana's house (see video), and it was way above the safe levels. With no access to purifiers, or a way to leave the city, there's little she can do.
We took a reading at Shabhana's house (see video), and it was way above the safe levels. With no access to purifiers, or a way to leave the city, there's little she can do.
The @WHO published research on the how air pollution is having a negative impact on young children.
It estimates that some 600,000 under-15s die each year around the world because they've inhaled toxic air.
who.int/news-room/deta…
It estimates that some 600,000 under-15s die each year around the world because they've inhaled toxic air.
who.int/news-room/deta…
@WHO I went to meet @kdrarvind, who has studied this subject for years. He's a lung surgeon and founder of @icareforlungs.
"In any city that is polluted, its newborns are becoming smokers from day one," he told me. (watch below).
#DelhiPollution
"In any city that is polluted, its newborns are becoming smokers from day one," he told me. (watch below).
#DelhiPollution
@WHO @kdrarvind @icareforlungs Dr @kdrarvind showed me images of the lungs of a 14 of 15 year old living in #Delhi.
He showed me black deposits on the lungs.
"These children are not smoking," he said (see below for image).
He showed me black deposits on the lungs.
"These children are not smoking," he said (see below for image).
@WHO @kdrarvind @icareforlungs This is the image @kdrarvind showed me of the teenager's lung.
#DelhiAir #DelhiPollution
#DelhiAir #DelhiPollution
@WHO @kdrarvind @icareforlungs The doctor had a stark warning about the seriousness of pollution to young children, in particular.
"It's killing our children," he said.
#DelhiAir #DelhiPollution
"It's killing our children," he said.
#DelhiAir #DelhiPollution
@WHO @kdrarvind @icareforlungs That's the end of this thread - of course everyone (me included) who is breathing in the toxic air is at risk. I've never smoked in my entire life, but now I've effectively become a smoker by virtue of living here. But it's the youngest and most vulnerable who are in most danger.
It was humbling to meet the residents of the slum. It’s hard to know how things will change in a meaningful way when it comes to air quality. Here are some pictures I took while there. Let’s hope there’s a brighter future ahead for these children.
