PUNE: Its that time of the year when cool weather and air pollution play havoc with health.When outside, the eyes smart and water, the haze stalls visibility, the acrid smoke gets into your nose, throat and lungs. And the price citizens pay for this pollution is the long run is heavy and irreversible. Air pollution in Pune has been on the rise over the last week and a few hours outdoors is enough for laboured breathing whether you are a four-year-old, a 20-year-old, a 45-year-old or a senior citizen. An increased number of vehicles, construction work and firecrackers have added to the particulate matter in the air. Citizens fear illness if they step out and many have air purifiers at home, in addition to keeping windows and balcony doors shut to avoid dust. My husband has cancer and his immunity is weak. The dust and pollution is so high that I am constantly worried about him. He has to always be in a sterile environment and that is difficult with this air pollution, entrepreneur Bhairavi Aina, a resident of Sopanbaug, said.Several parents from across the city have complained of their childrens worsening bronchitis. Laxmi Chavan, an advocate from Pimple Nilakh said that she, her husband and two children have dust allergies and are being treated. It has become difficult to go out and I am constantly worried about my kids, she said. But senior inspector Shafil Pathan has no choice but to face pollution every minute of her work day. I have been managing traffic at University Chowk for the last two months. Not only am I coughing and catching a cold frequently, but my skin is also badly affected. Metro work and vehicular traffic add to air pollution at this junction. Our masks become black and clogged with dust in a few hours, she added. Kharadi resident Mehzabin Saiyed said hers is an everyday battle and air pollution only aggravates it. I have interstitial lung disease and connective tissue disease. Both impact my lungs. Given the rise in pollution, this year, I am travelling abroad and will return once the air quality improves, she added.Dr Kapil Zirpe, pulmonologist and head of the neurotrauma unit of Ruby Hall Clinic, said that high-risk patients with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung conditions have to take extra care. They should use masks when outdoors and avoid smoking, including exposure to passive smoke. Getting enough sleep and adopting a healthy and nutritious diet can also help reduce some effects of air pollution, he added. Those with COPD and ILD should use N95 masks.Cyclists and walkers out in the morning have been hard hit by air pollution. Cyclist Raja Subramani said he wears a mask even though it is tough to breathe and cycle. I usually cycle in Lohegaon area and here, open burning of garbage and dust from poorly done roads are the biggest pollutants, he added.Vilasini Shelar works as a domestic help. She too feels that her familys bout of illness of late is taking longer to get better because of the constant exposure to air pollution. Usually, a three-day dose of medication from the doctor resolves the cough and cold. This time, we have been to the doctor thrice already and it is not mentally, physically or financially viable, Shelar said. Air pollution has forced many more like Shelar, to visit the doctor more frequently. Shreejit Nair, who is in his 20s, said he does all to keep safe, but his dust allergies have been acting up.I wear a helmet and use a handkerchief that covers my nose and mouth. I bathe once I get home to ensure that I dont fall ill because of dust in the air, Nair said. Nitin Natu, a resident of Bavdhan, lives in a highway facing society and has found that the smog level has increased in the last few days. My eight-year-old son has a cough and a cold. Night visibility has also been impacted due to the smog, he said. Dr Rajesh Kulkarni, paediatrician at Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital, said that the escalating pollution driven by heightened construction activity and increased vehicular emissions, is leading to a surge in respiratory issues among infants and children.Given their developing lungs and shorter stature, children are more vulnerable to particulate matter such as PM 2.5, as it settles in closer proximity to the ground. In Diwali, the likelihood of increased pollution raises concerns. It can trigger hyper-reactive airway disease, asthma and allergies in affected children. Some may need inhalers to manage and control their symptoms, he said.Hema Chari, core member of Warrior Moms, Pune said, children in Pune are becoming increasingly ill with respiratory problems and eye infections. Our administration needs to step up efforts to reduce air pollution. Strict regulations are required for construction projects and garbage burning. Measures like an air quality index display monitor on school grounds will provide real-time information about the air we breathe, allowing students, teachers, and staff to make informed decisions about outside activities.

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