The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Centre to be set up to diagnose diseases caused by pollution

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 30, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Centre to be set up to diagnose diseases caused by pollution

Sahana Charan

It is part of a programme taken up by GAIL

BANGALORE: Pollutants in the air can lead to various diseases, including tuberculosis and lung cancer. Carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen and particles in the air choke the lungs and are highly toxic.

With a view to assessing the damage caused to vital organs by air pollution, the Government-run SDS Tuberculosis and Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases (SDST & RGICD), in collaboration with the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), will establish a centre on its premises to diagnose diseases caused by air pollution.

The centre is part of a social responsibility programme taken up by GAIL in 26 cities in the country to promote compressed natural gas as a better option as fuel to fight pollution.

According to Shashidhar Buggi, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, the centre will help find out the effects of pollution on health and suggest better methods for treatment of diseases caused by pollutants in the air.

GAIL has provided Rs. 20 lakhs for setting up the centre, and equipment for the project will be purchased shortly. Specialised equipment, which can identify pollutants in the body, will cost Rs. 15 lakhs to Rs. 18 lakhs. "The centre should start functioning in August," he said.

Fundamental research

"It will not just be diagnostic centre but also a centre for fundamental research, where we will study the effects of toxic materials in the air on the lungs, heart and respiratory organs and their relation to chest diseases and certain cancers. We can also measure the level of pollution that cause certain ailments," Dr. Buggi said.

He said many patients showing symptoms of diseases caused by air pollution, those with cough, wheezing, chest pain and breathlessness, have sought treatment at the hospital. Apart from diagnosing their illnesses, the centre will study vulnerable groups to check the effects of pollutants on them for better prevention of diseases.

Among the tests to be conducted at the centre include blood gas analysis, analysis of carbon monoxide in the breath, lung diffusion test and tests to note inflammatory changes in the lungs because of pollution. "The tests will be useful for assessing the effects of smoking on the lungs and other vital organs," Dr. Buggi said.

Another initiative that the institute plans to take is to set up a laboratory to study sleep disorders. "Some people who are obese or may be suffering from respiratory diseases or cardiac dysfunction may wake up at night because of a choking sensation. To study sleep disorders, we plan to start a laboratory," Dr. Buggi said.

He said the hospital is facing staff shortage and should be granted autonomy to improve its functioning.

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