Clean The Air For Cleaner Cycles: The ‘Dirty’ Truth Of How Air Pollution Affects Women’s Health
Climec Labs
Building smart??affordable??sustainable??air purifiers w/ C-capture ??NIC 20 National|HackHarvard 21|SIH 22 Grand Finale
High levels of air pollution are related to menarche at younger age and increased risk of menstruation onset below 11 years of age
If you are a woman reading this, I am sure you’ve opened that bag of chips you wanted to treat yourself to after an exam or that bar of chocolate that you gifted yourself after a heartbreak. And boom! There’s someone warning you of your vulnerability to PCOS or infertility later in life. But what if we were a voice that told you otherwise, a voice that doesn't blame you but the air you breathe?
Don’t you be sorry Megan, that's for the air to do!
So buckle up for this rollercoaster because the stats will surely get you dizzy.
"AIR POLLUTION, YOU'VE BEEN PROVEN GUILTY!"
We know that air pollution badly affects the respiratory and pulmonary systems and is now found to affect the menstrual cycle. Recent research shows that the air particles you breathe, like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, can mimic natural hormones like estrogen and disrupt the endocrine system, leading to?irregular cycles, poor oocyte quality, and an increased risk of miscarriage. Shocking, ain't it?
PM10 pollution particles are considered unsafe by the WHO (World Health Organization) and are particularly harmful to the luteal phase (days 14–28) of the menstrual cycle. In major Indian cities, PM10 concentrations average around 117 micrograms/meter cube, approximately?8 times higher than the recommended annual average concentration?of 15 micrograms/meter cube.
If you think it's no big deal, wait for the results of new research from France that show that the?duration of a woman’s menstrual cycle may extend?when exposed to a particular concentration of fine particles.
An increase of?50 micrograms per cubic meter?in pollution particles results in an?extension?of the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle by?about 3.5 days!
BUT WAIT… THERE’S MORE!
Recent research in France has shown a?significant increase in the likelihood of developing dysmenorrhea?(a condition where people experience severe cramps and period pain) with long-term exposure to air pollution.
A study in Taiwan recorded the health data of 296,078 females aged 16–55 with no prior history of dysmenorrhea. Over a 13-year period of air pollution exposure, 12,435 (4.2%) of them were diagnosed with dysmenorrhea for the first time!
However, the final conclusion from the research was even more startling: Women and girls living in areas with high air pollutant levels were up to?33 times more likely to develop dysmenorrhea.
According to research, couples living in polluted areas took longer to conceive!
SO, WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THIS?
Firstly, we must spread awareness about pollution and its harmful effects on human health, especially the female reproductive system, because that’s considered taboo in India.
领英推荐
Secondly, we need to create communities that work towards building a sustainable tomorrow, like Climec Labs.
Wondering how we do that?
We at Climec Labs have developed an ergonomic and portable air purifier that purifies the air with its HEPA and Activated Carbon filters, shooing away the particles responsible for the sleepless period cramp nights! It purifies 16 sq. feet of air along with its AQI-based lighting to always keep you in the know! So what are you waiting for?
Join us at:?https://www.climeclabs.com/?to help build a healthy tomorrow!
With Aerem Go, take fresh air wherever you go.