Study Shows Air Pollution And Diesel Fumes Affect Females More Than Males. Toh Kya Karein Hum, Mar Jaaein?
Women, in general, are affected the most by many problems. From having to fight for their right to vote to demand they be paid as much as their male counterparts, women have had to cross hurdles every step of the way. As if battling social issues was not enough for women, the latest study reveals that they are more susceptible and are at a high risk of air pollution as well. So now, we have to for basic opportunities but health hazards affect us freely but more easily. Where’s the justice in this?
As per a report by Cosmo Magazine, in a new study which was collaborated on by researchers from two Canadian universities, they found out that diesel fumes affect females more than males. As a part of the research, particles in three different concentrations – 20, 50 and 150 mg per cubic metre- were investigated as compared to breathing filtered air. The data through this process was collected two times and weeks apart.
25 mg of PM2.5 per cubic metre is the European Union limit which is often exceeded in the city environment. Plasma from five males and five females was studied after each exposure, where changes in specific proteins within the plasma were looked for. Changes were found in around 90 proteins and many of these play a role in damage repair, inflammation, and even the immune system.
Also read: 94% Women Construction Workers Get Affected By Rising Air Pollution But Don’t Speak Up In Fear Of Losing Jobs: Study
A couple of variations between the females and males started getting obvious as the concentration of the diesel fumes increased. This study has proven that females are at more risk because of diesel exhaust and air pollution. One of the study’s lead researchers, Professor Neeloffer Mookherjee, said that this study is important as respiratory diseases tend to affect women and men differently. Therefore, it was important to know how air pollution affects both genders and how this will change the course of prevention and treatment of respiratory disorders.
