ISLAMABAD – Expert stressed on enhancing awareness in society regarding the relationship between global climate change, allergic and respiratory diseases due to a significant increase in global temperature in last 3 decades, said Prof Dr Ishaq Khan.
A climate change expert Prof Dr Ishaq Khan said that due to increase in temperature it resulted in warming ocean temperature, rising sea levels, melting glaciers, retreating sea ice and diminished
snow cover in the northern areas of Pakistan. He said workshops should be organized to enhance awareness about the impacts of climate change.
Media should also play its role by organizing seminars and conducting special programmes in this regard.
He said that during last few years we are observing rising heat waves in Karachi and over 60 people have died due to the heat wave in Karachi, adding that most of the global average temperatures is due to
rise in environmental pollution and greenhouse gas concentrations.
He said that climatic change is greatly associated with respiratory and allergic disorders, saying that the higher occurrence of poisonous substance and the increasing quantity of urban population are resulting in major environmental hazards that are toxic to human life.
This destructive climatic change is associated with respiratory and allergic disorders. The increased length and severity of the pollen season, the higher occurrence of heavy precipitation events and the
increasing frequency of urban population are resulting in major environmental hazards that are lethal to human life, he added.
He suggested that if we are willing to reduce the burden of allergic and respiratory symptoms, we must to control environmental factors that worsen these conditions.
The incidence and intensity of allergic rhinitis and asthma varies with atmospheric conditions. He said that the air pollution consisting of particular matters i.e dust mite, organic dust substances, diesel
exhaust and organic salts and atmospheric pollens affects individual immune system adding that eventually results in enhancement of allergic, respiratory diseases, causes airway inflammation and
hypersensitivity he added.
He said that the ongoing increase in air pollution encourages the growth of poison oily liquid which is responsible for the irritant properties.
He informed that global warming has a tremendous economic and health care impact in the form of loss of working hours and increased need for care among privileged populations.
