NYT writer was right: Surveys show children in polluted New Delhi have weakest lungs

Last week, New York Times journalist Gardiner Harris found himself in the middle of a debate on whether Delhi is safe for children, when he left the capital fearing for his son’s health. Harris, who was the newspaper’s South Asia correspondent living in Delhi, in his article, titled ‘ Holding your Breath in India' alleged that his son’s lung function had reduced 50 percent because of the city’s pollution. Though there were several opinions on how Harris’ account may have exaggerated, it turns out that he may well have been right, if a recent survey is anything to go by. [caption id=“attachment_2283560” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Delhi kids are more likely to have the weakest lungs. AFP[/caption] Hindustan Times tested five children belonging to different socio-economic backgrounds and in the age group of 8-14 years for asthma and lung capacity at Fortis Hospitals in Gurgaon, Mohali and Shalimar Baugh. The results presented a scary picture. Three out of the four children in Delhi tested positive for lung damage and allergies usually prevalent in smokers. The parents of the children were not aware that they had such serious lung conditions. The lung capacity of two of the children were found to be working at less than 80 percent, and one of them, a 10-year-old also had obstructive small airway disease, which is a sign of permanent lung damage. Surprisingly, a fifth child from less-polluted Mohali didn’t show any such symptom, proving that Delhi children are at a greater risk. Another survey conducted by HEAL foundation and Breathe Blue also paint the same picture. It was found that four out of 10 children from the capital suffer from severe lung problems, reports Daily Mail India. The survey also added that as compared to other cities, Delhi children have the weakest lungs. Daily Mail reports: “A worrying 21 per cent of the children surveyed in Delhi were categorised as ‘poor’ followed by 14 per cent in Bengaluru, 13 per cent in Mumbai and nine per cent in Kolkata.” You can read the Daily Mail article here.