Assault of Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plant on Pulmonary Health of School Boys Aged 7 To 15 Years

Abstract

With the advancing of civilization demand for electricity generation increases gradually. Coal-fired thermal power plants are the major contributors of electricity. Among power plants, coal-fired power plants produce most serious air pollution. Children are more susceptible to it. Therefore this study was planned to assess the pulmonary health status of school going boys aged 7-15 years living in the vicinity of thermal power plant. Subjects were divided into two groups: experimental(living within 5km radius from power plant) and control ( living more than 25km away from power plant) group. Anthropometric parameters such as height and weight were measured and body mass index and body surface area were derived. The lung function parameters studied were FVC, FEV1, PEFR and FEF25-75%.Spirometric findings suggest that living within vicinity of a coal-fired thermal power plant can result in obstructive lung disease as there is significant reduction of FVC, FEV1 and PEFR. Both asthma and COPD involve in obstructing the small airways. FEF 25-75% is significantly lower (p,<0.001) in people living within 5km from thermal power plant than people living more than 25km from it. This finding suggests that children and adolescent living near coal-fired thermal power plant have every possibility of an asthma-attack at an early age. Here we conclude that spirometric findings are worse for those living within the vicinity of a coal –fired thermal power plant suggesting particularly obstructing small air ways from asthma attack. So, Children reside within the locality of coal-fired thermal power plant should undergo immediate lung function test to detect asthma and its management besides ambient air monitoring.