Survey findings led to dust-free city drive

The findings of the two-year-long survey conducted by the civic health department among students of six private and municipal schools in the city prompted the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to consider launching a ‘dust-free Mumbai’ drive.

The findings of the two-year-long survey conducted by the civic health department among students of six private and municipal schools in the city prompted the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to consider launching a ‘dust-free Mumbai’ drive.

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Rahul Shewale, chairman of the civic standing committee, came up with the idea of launching such a campaign. Dr Sanjay Oak, director of medical education and dean of KEM Hospital, Parel, said: “We have planned to initiate the drive, based on this survey, for a year on a pilot basis.”

The survey was conducted among 1,163 students from six private and civic schools especially in central and south central Mumbai. The students surveyed were between 11 and 18 years of age.

The study revealed that 3.9% of the children had asthma while 6.18% complained of breathing problems. Their peak expiratory flow rate – the maximum rate at which a person can exhale – was below 80% of acceptable
values.

Dr Amita Athavale who heads the chest medicine and EPRC department, KEM hospital that conducted the survey, attributed the problems to air pollution caused by factors such as vehicular and industrial pollution and dust coming from construction sites.

During the survey, doctors from the hospital educated students on asthma, its symptoms, factors that trigger it and the importance of prompt and adequate treatment.