Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

STUDIES ON VENTILATION IN A GROUP OF YOUNGSTERS ATTENDING PRIMARY SCHOOL IN THE GREATER CALCUTTA METROPOLITAN AREA

Ankita Gon and Gopeswar Mukherjee

Abstract

The West Bengal Pollution Control Board recently conducted monitoring programme which showed a noticeable decline in the ambient and traffic air quality in the greater Calcutta area. In the current study, the ventilatory function of two groups of elementary school students is compared, one in the greater Calcutta area (Group A) and the other in allocation with superior air quality (Group B). The findings point to a minimal but statistically significant decrease in lung function in the former group exposed to higher levels of air pollution. The results call for long-term prospective studies to evaluate the likelihood that such youngsters may eventually acquire obstructive lung disease.