Dusty roads, choked lungs: Poor AQI spikes rush at OPDs
According to Gandhi Medical College (GMC) pulmonologist and associate professor, Dr Parag Sharma, "We're seeing a 10% to 15% increase in acute exacerbations among patients with asthma and baseline chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The dust acts as a direct irritant, triggering inflammation and breathing difficulty, especially in vulnerable individuals."
The latest Air Quality Index (AQI) measurements indicate that PM10 levels in the city reached approximately 80 µg/m³ during Sunday's daylight hours.
This level surpasses the World Health Organisation's suggested limit of 45 µg/m³ by about 40%. PM10 particles, which measure 10 micrometres or less in diameter, are approximately one-fifth to one-seventh as wide as a human hair, enabling them to travel deep within the respiratory system and cause inflammatory responses.
Rising respiratory ailments are being observed in Bhopal's hospitals due to the absence of rain and deteriorating road conditions, which have led to increased dust levels.
The combination of damaged roads and post-monsoon dust has caused air pollution to exceed permissible thresholds.
Doctors across the city are seeing a noticeable uptick in patient with existing COPD, asthma and bronchitis.
"We've seen a sharp rise in patients complaining of breathlessness, coughing, and chest tightness. The dust from broken roads is a major contributor. It's not just an inconvenience, it's a public health hazard," said another health expert, seeking anonymity.
The spike in pollution comes just weeks after the monsoon rains, which had temporarily settled airborne dust. But as the rains receded, vehicular movement on damaged roads began stirring up fine particulate matter again, leading to a double increase in the city's AQI — from 40s to upper 70s.
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