Mitigation of Air Pollution and its Impact on the Lung Health of Tuberculosis Patients, a Prospective Cohort Study from Rural India

Our respiratory system is a primary target of the harmful effects of poor indoor and outdoor air quality; therefore, the present study was undertaken in rural settings of Solan district of HP on 23 Pulmonary tuberculosis patients diagnosed at the Secondary Care level hospital of Solan in 2018 and 2019. Their lung function assessment was undertaken with Spirometry at the beginning and after six months of anti-tubercular treatment (ATT). Accordingly, air quality (indoor and outdoor) was assessed and the Air Quality Index (AQI) was computed. In total 300 participants in ten villages of the selected patients were selected to create awareness vis a vis literacy on the significance of air quality management for ensuring human health, especially tuberculosis management. Air pollution-abating plants were introduced in residential settings (indoor and outdoor) of selected patients. The study indicated that per unit AQI improvement of 16.6, 11.86 and 13.91 due to created literacy and environmental amelioration by introducing plants and enhancing air circulation/ventilation resulted per unit increase in the lung health index of tubercular patients with each of 0.0005 units of improvement in air quality. Capacity building on air quality management improved air quality as well as lung health of tubercular patients.