- By Akansha Pandey
- Wed, 19 Nov 2025 09:56 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Describing the rising air pollution in the capital as a "medical emergency," experts from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have stated that the crisis has become so pervasive that current government measures, while important, are insufficient. They emphasized that the government must undertake efforts on a war footing to tackle this situation.
A Public Health Emergency In a press conference, Prof Dr Anant Mohan, Head of the Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at AIIMS, along with his colleague Dr Saurabh Mittal, highlighted that Delhi’s surging air pollution poses a severe threat not only to the lungs but also to pregnant women, unborn and newborn babies, the elderly, and patients with heart and brain-related conditions. They termed this a state of public health emergency.
"Today's Toxic Air is Tomorrow's Serious Disease" The experts issued a warning that "today's toxic air is tomorrow's serious illness." They cautioned that if immediate corrective action is not taken, the health of future generations will pay a heavy price. Dr. Anant Mohan explained that the most profound impact of increasing air pollution is being observed in pregnant women. Ultra-fine particles present in the air are infiltrating the fetus through the mother's body, thereby affecting fetal growth.
Prof Dr Mohan noted that there is an increased risk of such children being born with low birth weight, and their lungs may remain weak as they grow. These adverse effects often manifest years after birth.
Beyond Respiratory Issues Dr Saurabh Mittal added that pollution is no longer limited to respiratory ailments. Continuous exposure to toxic air is leading to increased cases of lung inflammation, breathlessness, asthma attacks, and problems like COPD. Furthermore, fine particles are entering the bloodstream and affecting the heart and brain, which increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The doctors reported that, currently, 20 to 30 patients are arriving at hospitals daily due to illnesses caused by the pollution.