Kolkata joggers tweak schedule, cut walk time to beat toxic air

Kolkata: As the season of air pollution sets in, majority of morning walkers and fitness enthusiasts in Kolkata have changed their ways — be it by curtailing the jogging hours or altering their routes — to protect themselves from the rising levels of particulate matter in the air. Such alteration comes at a time when health professionals in the city have advised those with asthma, COPD or existing heart ailments to avoid morning walks.They have also cautioned fitness enthusiasts to avoid strenuous exercises early morning and late evening when air pollution is at its peak .Kolkata's Air Quality Index (AQI) had been poor before turning moderate over the past two days. RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences (RTIICS) consultant Arindam Biswas pointed out that harmful pollutants like cadmium, mercury, sulfur and carbon dioxide particles emitted by vehicles persist in the early morning air.Morning walkers like Rajesh Chowdhury (57) — a regular at Victoria Memorial — have opted for schedule change. "Until a few days ago, I would start my walks as early as 5am. Now, I have been coming after 7am when the situation (pollution level) is slightly better," said Chowdhury.Many have even changed their routes, opting to walk only inside parks and gardens amidst a cover of trees to minimise exposure to toxic air. "Vehicular pollution and fumes from open ovens are less inside the park, which makes it easier to breathe while walking there," said Tuhin Ray, a member of the Tala Park Morning Walkers' Association. Reducing the walk duration, some are also turning to free-hand exercises. Fitness freaks like Aditi Shaw, a homebaker, city are completing their daily step counts either at home or hitting the gym."For the past few days, the air has been thick with smog, and it is very difficult to breathe," Somendra Mohan Ghosh, an emission expert and a morning walker himself, said.