G
Guest
I received an e-mail from a former colleague today that had moved to Mumbai (formerly Bombay) India nearly a year ago. She had a new baby and she and her husband were feeling 'isolated' once the siblings, parents, and other relatives had come and gone. For them, they felt it was necessary for thier new baby to grow up knowing family rather than live isolated and becoming ensnared by wicked, western ways. Okay, that was a tad embellished, but not entirely off the mark.
Today's e-mail I received notified me that she will be returning to the US with husband and baby because her baby (now 2 yrs old) has been perpetually ill, suffering from coughing, fevers, and all the other icky symptoms that accompany sick children. It turns out that she was diagnosed with allergic bronchitis after a bout of high fever, vomitting and cold, which the family doctor clearly said was because of pollution - very likely construction related pollution.
The interesting part of this anecdote is that nearly eight out of ten children in Mumbai suffer from the same affliction. While many will gradually develop immunities by ages 8 - 10, some never overcome the side effects of the persistent poor air quality.
I have always known that air quality in developing industrial countries and specifically India is generally degraded but really had NO IDEA as to just how bad. What is even more tragic is that the air quality that is visible and affecting the respiratory system is primarily due to particulate matter - a contaminant that is relatively easy to treat and reduce. However, with growing economies and more eased environmental regulation, vigilance usually comes secondary.
It will be interesting to see what China does for the Summer Olympics 2008. There are already NUMEROUS reports detailing the downright deplorable air quality conditions in Beijing to the point that the government is beginning to take steps towards addressing the air contamination. Considering the persistence of air pollution, it will most likely be too little, too late.
JR
Today's e-mail I received notified me that she will be returning to the US with husband and baby because her baby (now 2 yrs old) has been perpetually ill, suffering from coughing, fevers, and all the other icky symptoms that accompany sick children. It turns out that she was diagnosed with allergic bronchitis after a bout of high fever, vomitting and cold, which the family doctor clearly said was because of pollution - very likely construction related pollution.
The interesting part of this anecdote is that nearly eight out of ten children in Mumbai suffer from the same affliction. While many will gradually develop immunities by ages 8 - 10, some never overcome the side effects of the persistent poor air quality.
I have always known that air quality in developing industrial countries and specifically India is generally degraded but really had NO IDEA as to just how bad. What is even more tragic is that the air quality that is visible and affecting the respiratory system is primarily due to particulate matter - a contaminant that is relatively easy to treat and reduce. However, with growing economies and more eased environmental regulation, vigilance usually comes secondary.
It will be interesting to see what China does for the Summer Olympics 2008. There are already NUMEROUS reports detailing the downright deplorable air quality conditions in Beijing to the point that the government is beginning to take steps towards addressing the air contamination. Considering the persistence of air pollution, it will most likely be too little, too late.
JR
