The air quality in Delhi continues to be “very unhealthy” with Shahdra (Jhilmil Industrial area) recording AQI of 287 at 1pm yesterday and Anand Vihar 299. And, in neighboring Ghaziabad and Noida, the air quality was hazardous with AQI crossing 350 (https://aqicn.org/city/delhi).

Under these situations, it is best to stay avoid going outdoors as much as possible. Use anti-pollution mask, if you need to venture out.

When at home, use air purifiers inside the house. But, they are expensive.

For those who cannot afford to buy air purifiers, it is possible to make them at home by fitting a dust filter (0.3 microns) in front of the table fan.

These makeshift filters can also be placed in front of the air conditioner or water air cooler. 

With this simple inexpensive do-it-yourself method, you can reduce air pollution by as much as 80%.

Watch these links:

https://www.facebook.com/drkkaggarwal/videos/2558979220991663/?ref=tahoe  

https://www.facebook.com/drkkaggarwal/videos/517729432110710/  

These filters are inexpensive and should be price capped under the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), so that they are affordable to people.

While there needs to be proactive action on the part of the government, each one of us should also do our bit to reduce exposure to toxic air pollution. The first step towards this is to ensure that all asthmatics, heart patients, and those with any kind of allergy use masks throughout the year. We should also try and make our own air purifiers at home.

Jain monks cover their nose and mouth with cloth (muhapatti). It is worth scoring the incidence of asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease etc. in them.

Dr KK Aggarwal

Padma Shri Awardee

President Confederation of Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania (CMAAO)

Group Editor-in-Chief IJCP Publications

President Heart Care Foundation of India

Past National President IMA