Abstract

Research into the health effects of air pollution is ongoing all over the world. This study aimed to assess the impact of air pollution on the respiratory disease in a critically polluted city of northern India. Air pollution has become a hazardous problem in India with an increase in urbanization, vehicle density and industrial smoke emission. Cross-sectional household survey was conducted in “exposed” and “reference” population. Ambient air quality data were assessed in both towns. Only the level of total suspended particulate matter (TSP) was observed to be more than permissible limit in Mandi Gobindgarh. Results of multivariate logistic regression showed that after controlling the confounding variables, cough (OR = 1.59, 95% CI 1.21-2.12, P = 0.001), phlegm (OR = 1.56, 95% CI 1.17-2.07, P = 0.003), wheeze (OR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.04-2.17, P = 0.03), chronic bronchitis (OR = 2.23, 95% CI 1.10-4.53, P = 0.03) and obstructive defects (OR = 1.86, 95% CI 1.43-2.42, P = 0.001) were significantly higher amongst the residents of Mandi Gobindgarh. Adult population of Mandi Gobindgarh has significantly more chronic respiratory morbidity as compared to that of Morinda. It is concluded that the level of TSP in the ambient air is responsible for the poor respiratory health in adults of Mandi Gobindgarh.

Key words: Air pollution, respiratory symptoms, morbidity, obstruction, restriction.