Ronan Kelly
Retired 2020
50% children at Moshi quarry have asthma
Umesh Isalkar, TNN 18 November 2009, 08:18am IST
PUNE: Over 50 per cent children working at a quarry in Moshi were found to have reduced lung function with all the symptoms of asthma. The two-and-half-year-long study has been carried out on 70 children working at the quarry by the paediatric unit of the Pune-based D Y Patil Medical College.
?We have been studying 70 children in the age group of three to 15 years who are working at the stone quarry in Moshi for the last two and half years. Over 50 per cent of them are found to have reduced lung functions with symptoms of asthma like breathlessness, cough, tightness in chest, wheezing etc.,? said paediatrician Sharad Agarkhedkar, head of the department of paediatrics at D Y Patil Medical College.
The study using the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) monitored the lung function of these children at regular intervals keeping a record of their measures at each examination, said Agharkhedkar, who is spearheading the study.
The peak expiratory flow rate measures how fast a person can breathe out (exhale) air. It is one of many tests that measures how well the lungs are functioning. Peak flow readings are higher when patients are well, and lower when the airways are constricted. ?From changes in recorded values, we have determined lung functionality and gauged the severity of asthma symptoms among these children. Over 50 per cent of these children recorded lower readings and were found to have all symptoms of asthma,? said Agharkhedkar.
?Children exposed to the dust for over five years were the most affected. Many of them were exposed to the dust right from birth,? said Agharkhedkar.
The stone quarry at Moshi is spread over an area of 10 acres. As many as 350 families reside in the area, said Agharkhedkar. The findings of the study was presented in the form of a research paper at the International Paediatric Association?s conference held in Athens recently.
?The paper was appreciated as the issue of child labourers working at the stone quarries in India is among known issues in other countries,? said Agharkhedkar.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...hi-quarry-have-asthma/articleshow/5241904.cms
Umesh Isalkar, TNN 18 November 2009, 08:18am IST
PUNE: Over 50 per cent children working at a quarry in Moshi were found to have reduced lung function with all the symptoms of asthma. The two-and-half-year-long study has been carried out on 70 children working at the quarry by the paediatric unit of the Pune-based D Y Patil Medical College.
?We have been studying 70 children in the age group of three to 15 years who are working at the stone quarry in Moshi for the last two and half years. Over 50 per cent of them are found to have reduced lung functions with symptoms of asthma like breathlessness, cough, tightness in chest, wheezing etc.,? said paediatrician Sharad Agarkhedkar, head of the department of paediatrics at D Y Patil Medical College.
The study using the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) monitored the lung function of these children at regular intervals keeping a record of their measures at each examination, said Agharkhedkar, who is spearheading the study.
The peak expiratory flow rate measures how fast a person can breathe out (exhale) air. It is one of many tests that measures how well the lungs are functioning. Peak flow readings are higher when patients are well, and lower when the airways are constricted. ?From changes in recorded values, we have determined lung functionality and gauged the severity of asthma symptoms among these children. Over 50 per cent of these children recorded lower readings and were found to have all symptoms of asthma,? said Agharkhedkar.
?Children exposed to the dust for over five years were the most affected. Many of them were exposed to the dust right from birth,? said Agharkhedkar.
The stone quarry at Moshi is spread over an area of 10 acres. As many as 350 families reside in the area, said Agharkhedkar. The findings of the study was presented in the form of a research paper at the International Paediatric Association?s conference held in Athens recently.
?The paper was appreciated as the issue of child labourers working at the stone quarries in India is among known issues in other countries,? said Agharkhedkar.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...hi-quarry-have-asthma/articleshow/5241904.cms