Page 16 - Turkinsurance Digital Magazine

16 cover story

Mortality Rates Increase With Increasing Stating that air pollution increases the frequency of
Heat Waves in Urban Areas asthma and asthma-related emergency applications,
Turkish National Allergy and Clinical Immunology As-
sociation (AID) Board Member Prof. Dr. Ozge Soyer,
The number of extremely hot days is getting longer and/
or increasing; the number of cold days is decreasing, the said: “Today, most of the global energy comes from
human body, which gets used to the summer heat over fossil fuels. With the combustion of these fuels, carbon
time, cannot achieve this physiological adaptation in dioxide, methane gas, black carbon, nitrogen oxides and
sudden temperature increases, according to urban heat sulfates are released. Such air pollutants increase the
island studies, cities are seen as the most risky living permeability of the respiratory tract and cause damage.
areas, it is revealed that death rates increase with the in- As a result, it causes sensitivity in the lungs, sputum
crease in heat waves in urban areas. The waves can also formation and asthma attack.
have negative effects on newborns and children, who are
physically more vulnerable than adults, and long-term Traffic Causes Childhood Asthma!
exposure causes respiratory system problems. It is pre-
dicted that malaria cases will explode in underdeveloped Emphasizing that traffic-induced air pollution is an
countries due to the temperature increases in 2050, the important cause of childhood asthma, Pediatric Immu-
decrease in water resources, the decrease in access to nology and Allergy Diseases Specialist Prof. Dr. Özge
food resources and the climate crisis. Soyer explains traffic-induced air pollution as follows:
“Nitrogen dioxide is the most exposed substance in traf-
Cancer Cases Increase with Global Warm- fic-related air pollution and causes nearly 4 million chil-
ing dren (64% living in cities) to be diagnosed with asthma
annually. Children exposed to traffic-induced air pol-
lution are more likely to have germ-free inflammation
The International Agency for Research on Cancer caused by asthma. Unfortunately, studies have shown
(UKAA) reported in 2009 that UVR is carcinogenic to that intense contact with traffic-induced air pollution
humans at wavelengths between 100-400 nm. In addi- during prenatal and early childhood causes genetic
tion, a 10% reduction in the total amount of strato- changes that cause respiratory tract to become allergic.
spheric ozone accounts for approximately 1.7 million Sitting close to traffic also increases the risk of develop-
additional cases of cataracts worldwide each year. Air ing allergic rhinitis.”
pollution is responsible for an estimated 7 million deaths
annually.
Avoid Going Out During Polluted Air
Periods
How much health will be affected by climate change de-
pends on the quality of health services we can access.
Communities that do not receive quality health care Underlining that asthma patients should stay away from
will be adversely affected by the health problems that indoor and outdoor air pollution as much as possible,
climate change may cause directly or indirectly. The Prof. Dr. Özge Soyer recommended that asthma patients
worldwide development of health services and access avoid heavy physical activities in very cold weather or
to the right service will greatly reduce climate-related on days when air pollution is intense, keep the windows
health problems. closed and not go outside unless necessary. Prof.Dr.
Soyer continued stated: “If they have to go outside in
Intense Air Pollution Causes Damage to polluted weather, they should prefer to wear a mask, al-
the Body ways use their medicines regularly and should not leave
their breathalyzers with them,” and said :

Today, air pollution is one of the most important prob- “The best method to reduce air and environmental pol-
lems affecting the health of asthmatic patients. Among lution is to change existing policies. Using renewable
the main factors that cause air pollution, there are or- energy sources instead of fossil fuels and stopping the
ganic wastes from traffic, industry, heating, energy pro- use of coal in industry will be one of the most important
duction, animal husbandry, and gases such as ammonia steps to be taken for both our world and the future of
and methane, which are mostly of human origin.
our children.”