A recent study by medical journal the Lancet reveals that greenhouse gases not just lead to global warming but are the reasons behind major health concerns to humans today.
The study emphasizes that an 80 per cent cut in greenhouse gases will subsequently reduce air pollution and will lead to the reduction in major health problems. The study was based on four different scenarios to model the health and economic impacts of air pollution on scenarios until 2050.
The research revealed that if nitrogen dioxide concentrations and other greenhouse gases decline, the air pollution will also reduce, which will lead to the reduction in the number of patients with deteriorated health conditions related to pollution, or illnesses exacerbated by poor air quality.
“The levels of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) has increased in the air due to increased levels of pollution, which penetrates into lungs and makes breathing difficult.
Patients affected the most were those who were already suffering from asthma, heart diseases, chronic bronchitis, and even lung infections. The sharp deterioration in air quality puts pediatrics and elderly at utmost risk who suffer from exacerbations due to an increase in the pollutants in the surroundings,” said pulmonologist Dr. S Jayaraman.