GUWAHATI: Guwahatians suffered from maximum respiratory diseases in 2018 among all diseases. As many as 75,475 cases related to acute respiratory infection were registered in Kamrup (Metro) from January to December 2018.
This was revealed by data obtained by the directorate of health services, Kamrup (Metro) for the number of cases registered against different diseases for 2018.
According to experts, some of the major causes of acute respiratory diseases include exposure to polluted air, excessive exposure to smoke and other toxic materials and poor immune system among others.
Guwahati has seen an increase in the levels of air pollution over the past few years.
According to latest data obtained by the Pollution Control Board of Assam (PCBA), the city’s air pollution levels showed an increasing trend over the past two months. The average PM 2.5 level in the month of October in Guwahati was 53.36 while this increased sharply to 97.9 in November.
PM 2.5 are fine particulate matters suspended in the air measuring two and a half microns or less in width. There are around 25,000 microns in an inch. Presence of high levels of PM 2.5 in the air reduces visibility and causes the air to appear hazy and can pose serious health-related risks among people including respiratory issues.