Gurgaon officials major victims of pollution

Pollution is taking a heavy toll in Gurgaon, one of Delhi's satellite cities. A survey has shockingly revealed that most of its officials suffer from poor lungs, affecting their breath.

The survey by a group of pulmonologists showed that 68 percent of the officials here reported short breath of varying degrees, doctors said on Wednesday.

Of this, 57 percent were found to have below normal lung capacity, with 48 percent suffering from lung issues suggestive of Obstructive Airway Disease or asthma.

The survey was conducted on 100 officials randomly ahead of Diwali on November 11 in different government offices located in the multi-story mini secretariat on Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway.

A majority of officials, including administrators, Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) and head of departments, were around 30 to 40 years of age group. Only 13 percent were regular smokers.

The survey revealed a surprising and worrying picture of poor respiratory health compounded due to poor air quality.

"The survey results are certainly shocking, especially for the officials who were mostly unaware of the problem," said Himanshu Garg, head of the department of Respiratory Critical Care at Artemis Hospital.

"We hope the survey will be an eye-opener for the people as well as healthcare stakeholders that will help point out the extent of the problem and the importance of raising awareness on it," he told the media.

In the survey, 21 percent of the respondents said they coughed at least a few days every month while eight percent felt their routine work was hampered due to their poor exercising capacity.

"The survey certainly raises serious questions on the outdoor as well as indoor air quality of Gurgaon," said Pratibha Dogra, a consultant pulmonologist.

The situation is particularly bad in the National Capital Region, where pollution levels have been reported to be much higher than the acceptable limits on most days of the year.

"The study clearly shows the impact pollution is having on the respiratory health of the residents of Gurgaon," added Garg.