Are roads derailing the elderly?

Our government tells us it’s building roads, and that in itself will play an important developmental role. This is only partly true. As many Indians know, respiratory problems are higher in areas with dense traffic.

Our government tells us it’s building roads, and that in itself will play an important developmental role. This is only partly true. As many Indians know, respiratory problems are higher in areas with dense traffic.

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But now, German scientists — a Dr. Ranft and others — are sending out a warning in new research published in Environmental Research. A study with 399 elderly women, found that those who lived near roads suffer from cognitive disorders directly lined with the particulate material from vehicles. A frightening finding was that mild cognitive impairment can lead to Alzheimer’s disease.

The study could be a wake-up call for us. Pollution and poor public transportation are changing the complexion of our demographics. Studies like this tell us that we need greater control on how infrastructure such as roads is used.

Oz Melting, Ironically
India is in the grip of winter. But the Southern Hemisphere, at least in the Australian Region, is reeling under the heat. The Australian Weather Bureau says that temperatures in the South Pacific region are higher than in 2005, the hottest year in recorded history.

This is ironic. Kevin Rudd, Australian Prime Minister promised to act on climate change, and, as this column commented upon, signed the Kyoto Protocol when he got elected. But in Copenhagen, he sided with those who tried to undo the Kyoto Protocol. Plus, Australia’s targets are low-just 5% of the 1990 levels. How pathetic is that? If the weatherman’s words don’t push them to act, then they will knowingly be axing their own feet.