Environmental pollution is the introduction of contaminants that cause instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the physical systems or living organisms.
Mega cities of Pakistan are facing major apprehension for air pollution due to climbing population and traffic. Lahore is a junction point of national highway system with a lot of heavy traffic. Level of total suspended particulates (TSP), PM10, SO2, NOx and ozone were reported to be highest in Lahore. Emissions from vehicles are a key factor for these pollutants.
Research on air pollution and pregnancy outcomes has gained momentum in the last two decades and a clear link has been established between increase in air pollution and increased abortion rate. The health effects of particulate part of exhaust include an aggravation of bronchitis with preexisting respiratory illness. Long-term exposure causes damage to lung tissue, which contributes to chronic respiratory disease, cancer, and premature illness and death. Particulate matter has a health risk even at concentrations that are below established air quality standard levels. It is heterogeneous in nature and greatly varies in chemical composition.
Angiogenesis is the development of new blood vessels from pre-existing capillaries. Angiogenesis is activated in the female reproductive system during ovulation, corpus luteum formation, embryogenesis and embryo implantation. Angiogenesis is vital for embryonic development, and disruption of this process can be a powerful mechanism of abortion or teratogenesis.
Particulate matter was collected from tailpipes of the auto rickshaws. The sample solutions were applied on developing chorio-allantoic membrane (CAM) by using five-day old fertilised eggs. In control samples, the blood vessels were arranged in a tree-like branching pattern with an equal distribution, covering the entire area of the CAM. However, in groups treated with sample solutions there are disorganised vascular architecture with increased number of disoriented vessels, marked thinning of the major blood vessels, and fading of the secondary blood vessels. There was a disturbance of the complete vascular network of the CAM. So it was concluded that exposure to particulate matter solution exhibited inhibition of angiogenesis process and exposure during pregnancy caused harmful effects on the developing fetus.
KHALEEQ ANWAR, PROF DR MUHAMMAD ASHRAF
UVAS, Lahore