31-Mar-2022: Indian scientists propose multi-sectorial strategies for the prevention and control of pollen allergy
Indian Scientists have suggested that large scale measures like developing pollen forecast systems and training of health care professionals and personal measures like following pollen forecasts, use of face masks, spectacles, and air filters, regularly taking prescribed medications, limiting outdoor exposure, and avoiding gardening or grass-cutting during peak pollen seasons could help minimize the onset and exacerbation of pollen-related allergic diseases.
They have highlighted the need for dissemination of proper knowledge regarding pollen allergy, allergen avoidance, their symptoms, and management to better address the ailment. Spring is in full bloom as the weather changes, trees, grasses, and weeds release fine bioaerosol particles known as pollen to fertilize other similar plants. However, pollen entering the nasal pathways could cause pollen allergy—with symptoms somewhat similar to common flu and cold. As the climatic variability is increasing, it is expected that the urban environment will significantly add to the burden of pollen-related respiratory and skin diseases.
Considering this, Prof. Ravindra Khaiwal from Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, Ms. Akshi Goyal, Ph.D. research scholar, and Dr. Suman Mor, Chairperson, Department of Environment Studies, systematically examined the implementation gaps to minimize the pollen allergy disease and suffering. Their study, supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt of India, was just published in the International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health (IJHEH), an international journal by Elsevier.
The study aimed to understand the major causes of widespread pollen allergy and identify the implementation gaps to suggest key adaptive measures to minimize the onset and exacerbation of pollen-related allergic diseases, focusing on lower and middle-income countries.
“These submicronic-pollen particles could act as respirable particles reaching deeper into the upper airways leading to exacerbation of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other allergic reactions,” Prof. Ravindra Khaiwal pointed out. He added that pollen allergy is a major respiratory illness that causes morbidity and affects patients' quality of life. Over the past few decades, the prevalence of pollen allergy has increased. It affects about 10%–30% of adults and 20%–25% of children worldwide and has increased owing to urbanization, air pollution, and climate change.
Dr. Suman Mor, Chairperson, Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, highlighted the four levels of strategies suggested by them-- individual level, health care communities and organizations, Local Governments, National/International Governments levels, to decrease the risk of illnesses associated with pollen allergy.
Prof. Khaiwal added that attention needs to be given to the most vulnerable sub-populations with allergic asthma, rhinitis, and eczema during the peak pollen season. He stressed that multi-stakeholder engagement is the key to minimizing pollen allergy's impact, including focusing on the education sector to build capacity in aerobiological research, developing pollen forecast systems, and training of health care professionals.
Ms. Akshi Goyal, DST-INSPIRE Ph.D. Scholar, Panjab University, Chandigarh, said that the research provided her an opportunity to understand the severity of the pollen allergy in changing climate, and studies like these would encourage young scientists to build a career in the area of aerobiology to reduce preventable health risks.
3-Dec-2019: E-Cigarettes Ordinance
The Government of India prohibited electronic-cigarettes and like devices through promulgation of ‘The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Ordinance, 2019 on 18th September, 2019.
All the States/UT Governments, Director General of Police of all States/UTs and Stakeholder, Central Government Ministries/Departments were requested to take necessary steps for implementation of the provisions of the Ordinance. Implementing agencies were also sensitized through a Video Conference for ensuring the implementation of the Ordinance. Further, a stakeholder meeting was organized with Central Government Ministries / Departments for implementation of the Ordinance.
The Bill to replace the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Ordinance, 2019 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 22.11.2019. The Bill has been passed by the Lok Sabha on 27.11.2019 and by the Rajya Sabha on 02.12.2019.
10-Jul-2019: Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems [ENDS] [also known as e-cigarettes]
As per a report of WHO, Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems [ENDS] [also known as e-cigarettes] heat a solution to create an aerosol which frequently contains flavourants, usually dissolved into Propylene Glycol or/and Glycerin. ENDS aerosol contains nicotine, the addictive component of tobacco products. In addition to dependence, nicotine can have adverse effects on the development of the foetus during pregnancy and may contribute to cardiovascular disease.
The WHO report further says that although nicotine itself is not a carcinogen, it may function as a tumour promoter and seems to be involved in the biology of malignant disease, as well as of neurodegeneration. Foetal and adolescent nicotine exposure may have long-term consequences for brain development, potentially leading to learning and anxiety disorders. The evidence is sufficient to warn children and adolescents, pregnant women, and women of reproductive age against ENDS use and nicotine.
E-cigarette has not been separately classified under import policy and is being imported under different HS Codes. Import of e-cigarette, its Accessories and Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), for the last three years and current year is as under:
|
Item Description |
Value in USD |
|||
|
e-Cigarettes, its accessories and ENDS |
2016-17 |
2017-18 |
2018-19* |
2019-20(Upto 30th April, 2019) |
|
38126.34 |
70171.45 |
83483.54 |
Nil |
* Figures pertaining to the financial years 2018-19 are Provisional.
As per WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2017, the Governments of thirty countries, including Mauritius, Australia, Singapore, Korea [Democratic People’s Republic], Sri Lanka, Thailand, Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, Bahrain, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates have already banned Electronic Nicotine Delivery System in their countries.
Ban on import is not possible unless there is a legal ban on domestic production, distribution and consumption. Considering that health is a state subject, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, has issued an advisory on 28.8.2018 to all States and Union Territories to ensure that any Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems including e-Cigarettes, Heat-Not-Burn Devices, Vape, e-Sheesha, e-Nicotine Flavoured Hookah, and the like devices that enable nicotine delivery are not sold [including online sale], manufactured, distributed, traded, imported and advertised in their jurisdictions, except for the purpose and in the manner and to the extent, as may be approved under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Governments of Punjab, Karnataka, Mizoram, Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan and Meghalaya have prohibited the manufacture, distribution, import and sale of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems.
12-Sep-2018: Tamil Nadu Government bans manufacture and sale of e-cigarettes.
The State government has prohibited the manufacture, sale (including online sale), distribution, trade, display, marketing, import and possession of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems, popularly known as e-cigarettes, in Tamil Nadu.
The prohibition of e-cigarettes follows the Health and Family Welfare Minister announcing on the floor of the Assembly on June 14 the banning of e-cigarettes.
In a government order, the ill-effects of e-cigarettes are being circulated — that inhaling through the device is harmful as it contains nicotine, ultrafine particles and also has heavy metals. Also the myth that e-cigarettes are less harmful when compared with smoking tobacco has been busted, the order said. Defective e-cigarettes can lead to burns and in some cases also explode.
The ban advisory states that the use of e-cigarettes causes adverse health effects due to second-hand exposure to metals like nickel and chromium. These pose a risk to non-smokers and bystanders. E-cigarettes is also dangerous to children and non-smokers.
29-Aug-2018: Centre asks states to ban e-cigarettes
In a move to protect health risks to children, adolescents and women of reproductive age, the health ministry has asked states to ban Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) including e-cigarettes, Vape, e-Sheesha, e-Hookah etc.
The states/Union Territories are advised, in larger public health interest and in order to prevent the initiation of ENDS by non-smokers and youth with special attention to vulnerable groups, to ensure that any Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) including e-Cigarettes, Heat-Not-Burn devices, Vape, e-Sheesha, e-Nicotine Flavoured Hookah, and the like devices that enable nicotine delivery are not sold (including online sale), manufactured, distributed, traded, imported and advertised in their jurisdictions, except for the purpose & in the manner and to the extent, as may be approved under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules made thereunder.
27-Mar-2018: Regulation of E-Cigarettes
As per a report prepared by WHO, Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) (also known as e-cigarettes) emits nicotine, the addictive component of tobacco products. In addition to dependence, nicotine can have adverse effects on the development of the foetus during pregnancy and may contribute to cardiovascular disease.
The WHO report further says that although nicotine itself is not a carcinogen, it may function as a “tumour promoter” and seems to be involved in the biology of malignant disease, as well as of neurodegeneration. Foetal and adolescent nicotine exposure may have long-term consequences for brain development, potentially leading to learning and anxiety disorders. The evidence is sufficient to warn children and adolescents, pregnant women, and women of reproductive age against ENDS use and nicotine.
13-Jun-2019: How lethal PFA chemicals enter our body?
Per and Polyfluoroalkyls (PFAs), a chemical on non-stick cookware among many other things, has made its way into the human food chain.
PFAs, currently unregulated in India, are a group of artificial chemicals used in many items of daily use. Apart from cookware, they are found in resistant fabrics used for cleaning, paints and food packaging.
The chemicals can be fatal for human beings, travelling through bloodstreams and collecting in the kidney and liver. Continuous deposition can lead to dysfunction of organs or cancer after a period.
More than 98 per cent of blood samples collected in the US were contaminated with PFA, according to the report. In the US, among 91 samples of food (fruits, vegetables, baked products, meat and seafood) tested by the FDA, PFAs were found in 14. The chemical comes in contact with food through contaminated ground water, soil and air, apart from the household items. The FDA found incredibly high levels of PFA contamination in chocolate cake with icing — 17,640 parts per trillion (ppt). The reason being cited: Grease-proof paper used to wrap the cake for take-aways and storage.
As far as India is concerned, the situation is worse as PFAs are unregulated, states the 2019 India PFAS situation Report, published by IPEN, a Sweden-based non-profit organisation. The report clearly states that India joined as a party to the Stockholm Convention in 2006 and in turn, the Convention included India’s name to the PFA global restriction list in 2009. But, India has not accepted this amendment till now.
IPEN researchers also conducted a small case study in Delhi. They found that non-stick cookware were sold under two categories: one was PFOA-coated and the other was PFOA-free cookware. PFOA is Perfluorooctanoic Acid and is known as an emerging health concern.
Brands which sell PFOA-free cookware, usually label the product. But this label is not completely fool-proof and it is likely that many of these manufacturers are simply using fluoropolymers made without using PFOA.
Fluorine-free alternatives include silicone-, ceramic- or enamel-based coatings. More research is required to be done in India to establish the constitution and shifts in the coated cookware market.