Overview

In this video, Dr Peush Bajpai, HOD & Consultant Medical-Hemato Oncologist at Manipal Hospital, Delhi, sheds light on an important and alarming health concern: the link between air pollution and lung cancer.

Drawing from extensive scientific research conducted in the UK, Taiwan, and other Asian countries, Dr Bajpai explains how air pollution, specifically exposure to PM2.5 particulate matter, poses serious risks to lung health.

PM2.5 refers to tiny particles in the air that are 2.5 micrometers or smaller. Due to their size, these particles bypass the natural defence mechanisms of our body, such as nostril hair and mucosal secretions, and travel deep into the lungs.

Once there, they cause damage at the cellular level, leading to DNA mutations in the lung tissue. These mutations are now recognized as precursors to lung cancer, marking a strong connection between air pollution and this life-threatening disease.

Dr Bajpai further discusses how PM2.5 alters the lung mucosa, highlighting findings from various studies that have provided solid evidence linking air pollution to genetic changes that initiate lung cancer.

The grease-like particles in polluted air are especially harmful, as they cause persistent changes and mutations that set the stage for cancer development.

He offers a comprehensive perspective on the dangers of air pollution and emphasizes the need for awareness and preventive measures. With air quality deteriorating globally, understanding its impact on our health is more crucial than ever.

Speakers

Dr Peush Bajpai (MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DM (Medical Oncology), ESMO Certified) is the HOD & Consultant - Medical Hemato Oncologist at Manipal Hospital, Delhi. With over 17 years of experience in the field, he is adept in comprehensive treatment of various cancers. Dr Bajpai specialises in Breast Cancer Management Gastrointestinal malignancies- Gastric, colo-rectal, hepatocellular carcinoma, Gynaecological Malignancies - Carcinoma Ovary, the, endometrium, Haematological Malignancies - Multiple Myeloma,, CML, CLL, and Autologous Bone marrow transplant, Soft-tissue Sarcomas and Osteosarcoma, Thoracic Malignancies - Lung Carcinoma, Immunotherapy, Precision Oncology. He completed his MBBS and MD in General Medicine before specialising with a DM in Medical Oncology from the Cancer Institute, Adyar, Chennai. Dr Bajpai is also accredited by the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO). Dr Bajpai is actively involved in the broader medical community through his membership in several associations, including the Indian Medical Association (IMA), the Association of Physicians of India (API), and the Indian Society of Medical Oncology (ISMO).