Diwali Fireworks, But We Shouldn't Celebrate Just Yet... Pollution linked to COVID-19

As the festival of Diwali celebrations have concluded this past weekend, the worsening conditions of New Delhi's air quality posed an issue. The air quality of New Delhi posed the worst AQI of this year recently and this was not aided by the festival of lights and multiple fireworks celebrations. Many of the items used to celebrate the lights include noxious gas which contribute to air pollution.

Research has showed that not only is air pollution horrible for respiratory issues in general but especially COVID-19 and the severity and transmission of this disease. This was shown in a Harvard study that concluded long-term exposure to air pollution can make you both more vulnerable to COVID-19 and cause more severe respiratory and cardiac outcomes. In addition, the European journal Cardiovascular Research concluded that a whopping 15% of universal COVID-19 deaths are connected to air pollution. 

If New Delhi's air pollution is shown long-term to be an additional issue for COVID-19 patients, this may lead to adverse effects that can disrupt eradication of the disease. The country already is not far behind the US in the number of deaths and infections. This also creates an increased consequence for hospital resources as pollution regularly contributes to respiratory winter issues. 

However, New Delhi only has "Band-Aid" solutions for its air pollution problem and should promote more carpooling and public transport and condemn burning trash, a common theme in India. In ameliorating the air pollution problem not only will this hopefully affect COVID-19 severity but also post-COVID when air pollution could still be a threat. This article highlights important and necessary political and personal action that must be done in order for New Delhi to progress and the universal stake in New Delhi as its air pollution issues could pose as a block to world eradication.

- Liz

Article:

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/11/12/934097578/fireworks-of-diwali-spark-worries-about-pollution-and-coronavirus-cases?utm_source=Global+Health+NOW+Main+List&utm_campaign=72250f2a63-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_11_12_02_49&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8d0d062dbd-72250f2a63-2994893