B'luru's air pollution contributing to heart diseases? Study finds drivers are at risk

The study found that out of 2,400 patients surveyed, 35% of them with no conventional risk factors were suffering from heart diseases.

news Health

Is Bengaluru's air pollution, which is primarily down to emissions made by the city's traffic, contributing to a rise in heart diseases among the city's residents? This was the question that researchers at the Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research (JICSR) hoped to answer when they took up a study in 2017.

"We started a long-term project two years ago to research heart diseases among young people. What we found was that 35% of the people who had no conventional risk factors were developing heart diseases," explains Dr Rahul Patil, a cardiologist at JICSR.

The study found that 35% of the 2,400 patients studied, who showed no previous conventional risk factors suffered from cardiovascular diseases (CAD) that were attributed to air pollution. While drivers who operated public transport like autos and buses were vulnerable due to the long periods of time spent in traffic, other risk factors like smoking, diabetes, hypertension and obesity also increased the risk of developing heart ailments.

All patients who were part of the study were under the age of 40, and had been admitted in the Premature Coronary Artery Disease (PCAD) clinic in Jayadeva between April 2017 and April 2019. The study was conducted along with six institutions including NIMHANS and St John’s Research Centre.

Auto, cab drivers at risk

The link to air pollution being a factor in people developing heart ailments was established by studying the professions of the patients admitted in the PCAD clinic. The study found that the most common nature of work among the patients was driving public transport vehicles like auto, taxi and buses, constituting nearly one fourth of the patients (24%) surveyed. The study also showed that agriculturists (15%) and daily-wage workers (15%) are at risk from suffering from heart diseases.

According to Dr Rahul, PM 2.5 or fine particulate matter, is the main factor causing heart diseases. “If PM 2.5 matter penetrates the alveoli-capillary membrane, it can enter the blood stream and cause an allergic response,” he explains. The alveoli-capillary membrane in the lungs is where the exchange takes place – the oxygen is diffused into the blood, and carbon dioxide exits it.

A study published in 2018 by Climate Trends and Co Media Lab, a city-based organisation, showed that fine particles (PM 2.5) in the air touch hazardous levels during peak traffic hours in the city.

Karnataka's Transport Department reported in April this year that there were more than 80 lakh vehicles in Bengaluru with around 1,800 vehicles being added every day. This does not include vehicles registered in other cities being used in Bengaluru. In addition, open waste burning and debris from construction also contribute to high PM 2.5 levels in the city.