Air pollution linked with multiple long-term health conditions: Study
London (PTI): Exposure to traffic related air pollution is associated with an increased risk of multiple long-term physical and mental health conditions, according to a study.
This is the largest study worldwide -- conducted on over 364,000 (over 3.6 lakh) people in England -- to examine whether air pollution exposure is linked with the occurrence of multiple long-term health conditions, the researchers said.
The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health, showed that high levels of traffic-related air pollution - fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were associated with an increased risk of having at least two long term health conditions.
The strongest associations were observed for co-occurring neurological, respiratory, cardiovascular and common mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, the researchers said.
"People with more than one long-term health condition have a lower quality of life and greater dependence on the healthcare system," said Amy Ronaldson, Research Associate at King's College London and first author on the study.
"Our research has indicated that those people that live in areas of higher traffic-related air pollution are at greater risk of having multiple health conditions," Ronaldson said.
However, the study does not prove that air pollution causes multimorbidity, but it does warrant further research in this area, the researchers said.
They analysed data from UK Biobank - a large-scale biomedical database and research resource containing anonymised genetic, lifestyle and health information from half a million UK participants aged between 40 and 69 years.
Participants were assessed for 36 physical and five mental health chronic conditions. Multimorbidity was defined as having two or more of these conditions.
Physical and mental health data from UK Biobank in 2010 were linked with the estimated concentration of air pollution at the residential address of the participants.
The study found that those participants exposed to higher concentrations above 10 microgramme per cubic metre ( g/m3) of fine particulate matter had a 21 per cent increased risk of two or more co-occurring conditions compared to those exposed to concentrations below 10 g/m3.
For participants exposed to above 30 g/m3 of NO2, the study showed a 20 per cent increased risk of having two or more co-occurring conditions compared to those participants that were exposed to concentrations of NO2 below 20 g/m3.
Amongst those with multiple conditions, increased exposure to both PM2.5 and NO2 was linked to a greater severity of the co-occurring conditions, the researchers said.
"How air pollution affects multiple organs and systems at the same time is not yet fully understood, but there is some evidence that mechanisms such as inflammation, oxidative stress and immune activation could be triggered by air particulates, which can cause damage to the brain, heart, blood, lungs and gut," said Ioannis Bakolis from King's College London.
"Our study suggests that it could be through shared mechanisms that air pollution negatively impacts several body systems and increases the likelihood of people developing multiple long term health conditions," said Bakolis, senior author on the study.
Researchers identified several patterns in the associations. The strongest links were primarily between conditions relating to the respiratory system such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as well as the cardiovascular system like atrial fibrillation, coronary heart disease, and heart failure.
The link was also seen with neurological and common mental conditions such as stroke, substance abuse, depression and anxiety, the researchers added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
India delivers first batch of BrahMos missiles to Philippines
New Delhi, Apr 19: India on Friday delivered the first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines, in reflection of the growing military ties between the two countries amid China's military muscle-flexing in the South China Sea.
The supplies came over two years India signed a USD 375 million deal with the Southeast Asian nation to supply the weapon systems.
A C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) transported the missile and the launchers to the Philippines for the country's marine forces, official sources said.
Under the January 2022 deal, India will supply three batteries of the missiles, their launchers and related equipment.
It was the first export of the BrahMos missile by India.
A few other countries including Argentina have also shown interest in procuring BrahMos missiles from India.
BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd, an India-Russian joint venture, produces the supersonic cruise missiles that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms.
BrahMos missile flies at a speed of 2.8 Mach or almost three times the speed of sound.
India has been looking at further expanding defence ties with the Philippines against the backdrop of growing global concerns over China's increasing military assertiveness in the South China Sea.
Both India and the Philippines have been emphasising the need for peaceful settlement of disputes in the South China Sea and for adherence to international law, especially the UNCLOS (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea).
The twin sides are also favouring implementation of an arbitral award by a UN court on the South China Sea.
The UN's Permanent Court of Arbitration, adjudicating the Philippines' case against China's territorial claims in the South China Sea, ruled in favour of Manila. However, China refused to accept the verdict.
There have been growing global concerns over China's sweeping claims of sovereignty over all of the South China Sea, a huge source of hydrocarbons.
Several countries in the region including Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei, have counterclaims.
As part of efforts to boost military ties with the Philippines, India has decided to post a defence attache to that country along with Ethiopia, Mozambique, Poland and Ivory Coast.
Watch | #BrahMos supersonic cruise Missiles delivered to the Philippines by India today
— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) April 19, 2024
The two countries had signed a deal worth USD 375 million in 2022 pic.twitter.com/Fx6aaGMk2n
