The foundation has set up detection booths in various parts of the city, since Monday, as part of World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) day on November 18.

COPD, a silent killer that permanently damages the windpipes in the lungs will be caused if exposed to smoke fumes, dust etc. In various booths, information will be collected and assessed to find out how many people have COPD, say officials from the CRF which conducts research on research on respiratory diseases.

The desease causes permanent damage of the breathing tubes that is caused due to smoking and exposure to chulha, kerosene and vehicular smoke over a long duration. It is the 4 th biggest killer disease and kills more people than even cancer and AIDS. Various detection booths have been set up at Saras baug, Sambhaji park, Swargate bus stand, Khadki bazaar, Narayan peth, Kalyani nagar, and an awareness campaign will be launched from Shaniwar wadia.

Spirometry, the only objective diagnostic tool for diagnosis of COPD, will be done free of cost for all the attendees. Many people were motivated to quit smoking at the detection booth, says Dr Monica Barne, programme manager at CRF. Data will be collected from all the detection booths . So far, 100 persons have been assessed at the detection booths.