‘Hibiscus, coconut tree to blame’

A nearby coconut tree or a potted plant of hibiscus may be the root cause of an asthma case in your family.

Close to 3% cases of asthma were reported in the 540 homes studied by National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and civic-run KEM Hospital  in Khar, Andheri and Borivli.
Of the 3% cases, the trigger of asthma was traced down to pollen grains of hibiscus rosasinensis, popularly known as red hibiscus plant, in five homes having at least one asthma patient.

Moreover, pollen grains of cocos nucifera coconut tree were collected from four homes having asthmatic patients. In another two homes, heavy infestation of dust mites was traced as the cause of asthma.

“Slides coated with glycerin jelly were hung at the window of the houses for a day or two. The glycerin jelly acts as a medium for pollen to settle down which was then studied under the microscope,” said Dr Amita Athavale, head, department of chest medicine at KEM Hospital.

The researchers are in the process of installing Hazdust, a portable device to measure indoor dust concentration.
“The ongoing study is aimed at zeroing down on the contribution of particular indoor factors that trigger asthma, including dust particles, insect body parts, pollen and dust mites,” said Dr Rakesh Kumar, chief scientist and head, NEERI.