Delhi-NCR Air Pollution Survey: At Least One In Every Family Suffering From Ailment
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LocalCircles survey: 27% of Delhi-NCR families surveyed are using air purifiers to reduce impact of pollution
The Delhi government may consider additional emergency measures like closure of colleges/educational institutions and non-emergency commercial activities, permitting running of vehicles with registered numbers on odd-even basis. (Photo: PTI)
As air in Delhi-NCR hits peak toxicity, every family has one or more individuals experiencing pollution-related health ailments, according to a LocalCircles survey.
The survey received over 21,000 responses from residents of Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad. While 63% of respondents were men, 37% were women. The survey was conducted via the LocalCircles platform.
THE AILMENTS
The first question in the survey asked Delhi-NCR families: “What are all the ailments you or members of your family in Delhi-NCR are now experiencing due to the air pollution?”
Some among the 9,905 respondents to the question indicated more than one health issue. The largest group, 75%, indicated “sore throat and/or cough”; 58% indicated “headache”; 50% indicated “breathing difficulty/asthma”; 42% indicated “difficulty sleeping”; 33% indicated “runny nose and/or congestion”; 33% indicated “burning eyes”; and 33% indicated “anxiety and/or difficulty in concentrating”.
To sum up, 75% of Delhi-NCR families have one or more members with a sore throat or cough, while 58% have a headache due to rising levels of pollution; 50% have someone having breathing difficulty or asthma due to highly toxic levels of pollution. Every family has someone with one or more ailments due to the toxic air. The percentage of families surveyed who reported that they or some family members are unwell has increased from 69% on 1 November to 75% on 19 November; however, compared to one month back, more than double the families have indicated that they or family members have been impacted due to rising pollution levels in Delhi-NCR.
27% OF DELHI-NCR FAMILIES SURVEYED USING AIR PURIFIERS
The survey next asked residents of Delhi-NCR: “With Delhi-NCR’s AQI crossing the 400-mark, what best describes what you and your family are doing to handle this?”
The question received 12,158 responses, with some indicating more than one option.
Around 16% of respondents indicated that they are “travelling/planning to travel out for some or most part of this month”; 8% indicated that they “stay indoors, increase intake of immunity foods/drinks and bear it”; 27% indicated that they “stay indoors, increase intake of immunity foods/drinks, use air purifiers”; 8% indicated that they “carry on routine activity and wear a mask when outdoors”; 11% indicated that they “carry on routine activity and wear a mask when outdoors, and increase intake of immunity foods/drinks”; 27% stated that they “will not do any of the above and just live with it”; and 2% of respondents did not give a clear answer.
To sum up, 27% of Delhi-NCR families surveyed are using air purifiers to reduce the impact of pollution; a large majority just live with it by increasing their intake of immunity foods and drinks; 23% are not doing anything to protect themselves. The percentage of families using air purifiers has increased substantially from 18% on 19 October to 27% a month later, which shows that those who can afford it are investing in technology to bring them some relief from rising air pollution.
