Air pollution takes toll on rural health

Experts say deforestation strips land of natural defences, leaving people vulnerable

ISLAMABAD:

Air pollution is often seen as an urban issue, but its impact on rural areas is just as severe, quietly undermining traditional ways of life.

In Pakistan's countryside, pollution from agricultural practices, waste burning, and traditional cooking methods is increasingly harming both health and the environment. The consequences include not only respiratory and heart diseases but also broader economic and environmental challenges that threaten the sustainability of rural lifestyles.

While city dwellers face smog from industries and traffic, rural communities experience a different type of air pollution. In many villages, traditional cook-stoves and three-stone fires are still commonly used. These methods, which rely on biomass fuels like wood, crop residue, and kerosene, emit harmful fine particulate matter and toxic gases such as carbon monoxide. According to health experts, this incomplete combustion contributes significantly to air pollution, creating indoor air hazards that are especially dangerous for women and children. Particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution are pregnant women, children, and the elderly. Dr Fareed Somroo, a health expert, in an interview said that exposure to fine particulate matter can lead to low birth weight, developmental issues, and increased risks of preterm birth in infants. Pregnant women exposed to pollutants face higher risks of miscarriage and complications like pre-eclampsia.

For the elderly, who often suffer from pre-existing conditions, air pollution increases the likelihood of chronic respiratory and heart diseases, further straining rural healthcare systems.

The pollutants from traditional cooking practices not only damage health but also contribute to deforestation and the release of black carbon, which worsens global warming. Prolonged exposure to these pollutants leads to respiratory infections, lung diseases, and increased risks of heart attacks and strokes. In rural areas where healthcare is limited, these health issues are particularly troubling.

Addressing the challenge of air pollution in rural areas requires comprehensive action. Climate expert Naseer Memon in response to this scribe suggests enforcing emission standards in industries and promoting cleaner technologies across both urban and rural settings. He emphasises the importance of adopting improved cook-stoves and alternative fuels to reduce indoor air pollution.

Memon also advocates for better waste management practices in rural areas, including banning the open burning of trash and crop residues. He recommends promoting biodegradable materials and implementing recycling and proper disposal systems to reduce pollution levels. Education campaigns that raise awareness about the health risks of air pollution, combined with encouraging practices like carpooling and using public transportation, could help mitigate the problem.

Air pollution's impact on rural Pakistan is a crisis that remains largely overlooked, yet its effects are devastating. The environmental degradation caused by pollution also exacerbates climate change, which in turn affects agriculture through erratic weather patterns, diminishing water resources, and further reducing crop yields.

Deforestation, driven by the demand for firewood, strips the land of its natural defences, leaving communities more vulnerable to floods, droughts, and other climate-related disasters.

Pollution in rural Pakistan is not limited to household activities. Open burning of trash is a common practice due to the lack of proper waste management systems. In villages like Beryan, near Tarbela Ghazi, the burning of waste materials such as plastics and diapers releases toxic chemicals into the air, while open garbage dumping during the rainy season creates breeding grounds for mosquitoes, increasing the spread of diseases such as malaria and dengue. Agricultural activities also contribute, with the burning of crop residues releasing large amounts of harmful particulates into the air.