Archive · 1 Dec 2025
Expert Warns of Deadly Heat and Air Pollution Mix
A former top scientist from the World Health Organization, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, gave a talk about how hot weather and dirty air together can be very dangerous.
She said this mix can make people sicker and even cause death.
Some people, like pregnant women, those with heart problems, and people with mental health issues, are more at risk.
The air in Calcutta was found to be not very healthy on Sunday.
Dr. Swaminathan also explained that hot nights are especially bad because our bodies need cooler nights to recover from the day's heat.
Another doctor, Debdatta Bhattacharya, noticed that heart problems increase during hot weather.
Both doctors agree that we need to pay attention to these health risks.
Former WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan warns that the combination of heat and air pollution is deadlier than either alone.
Vulnerable groups include pregnant women, heart patients, and those with mental health issues.
Night-time temperature increases are particularly concerning as they prevent the body from recovering.
Air quality in Calcutta was 'poor' at three monitoring stations and 'moderate' at the rest on Sunday.
Extreme heat can lead to cardiovascular stress, mental health issues, and potentially fatal heat stroke.
- Who
- Soumya Swaminathan, former chief scientist of WHO, and Debdatta Bhattacharya, consultant cardiologist
- What
- Warning about the deadly combination of heat and air pollution
- When
- Sunday
- Where
- Bose Institute, Calcutta
- Why
- To highlight the increased health risks due to the combination of extreme heat and air pollution
- Expert
- Soumya Swaminathan, former chief scientist of WHO
- Event
- 86th Acharya JC Bose Memorial Lecture
- Location
- Bose Institute, Calcutta
- Date
- Sunday
- Key Findings
- Combination of heat and air pollution increases death risks
- Vulnerable Groups
- Pregnant women, heart patients, mentally ill, and elderly
- Health Risks
- Cardiovascular stress, mental health issues, heat stroke
- Air Quality in Calcutta
- Poor at Fort William, Victoria Memorial, and Jadavpur; Moderate elsewhere