Choking on Smog: Punjab’s Health Crisis Amid Rising Air Pollution

Cities in Punjab experience a severe rise in smog, making it increasingly difficult to breathe and exposing residents to significant health risks. This dangerous mix of air pollution and fog is mainly caused by emissions from industries, vehicles, crop burning, and brick kilns, releasing toxic fumes and greenhouse gases into the air.

Smog contains harmful particles (PM2.5 and PM10), heavy metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other toxic substances that can enter the bloodstream through the lungs. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), prolonged exposure to air pollution and smog significantly increases the risk of chronic respiratory diseases, heart issues, and lung cancer.