- By Akansha Pandey
- Thu, 09 Oct 2025 04:17 PM (IST)
- Source:Jagran News Network
A new, silent health crisis is emerging in the capital, as leading rheumatologists are now linking Delhi-NCR's toxic air pollution to a surge in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), a serious autoimmune disease.
Experts present shocking evidence that rising levels of PM2.5 pollution are a major trigger for the condition, shifting the understanding of the disease from being primarily genetic to being significantly influenced by environmental factors. Delhi, already among the world's 10 most polluted cities, has become a new hotspot for this debilitating illness.
What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a long-term autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues, primarily the joints. This assault leads to chronic pain, swelling, stiffness, and can result in severe disability.
The mechanism through which air pollution triggers RA involves fine pollutants like PM2.5, which penetrate deep into the lungs. These toxins increase systemic inflammation and oxidative stress throughout the body, causing the immune system to become overactive and attack healthy joint tissues.
Recent studies from Europe, China, and now India confirm this link. A landmark 2025 study in the European Medical Journal, using the Two-Sample Mendelian Randomisation method, provided the first genetic evidence of a deep connection between common air pollutants and autoimmune diseases like Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Expert Alarms: A Public Health Emergency
Doctors across Delhi are witnessing a disturbing trend of new RA cases in patients with no family history of the disease, pointing to an undeniable environmental link.
Dr Uma Kumar of AIIMS warns, "We have seen an increase in Rheumatoid Arthritis cases among patients living in polluted areas who have no family or genetic history of the disease. This is a public health emergency that can no longer be ignored."
Dr Bimlesh Dhar Pandey of Fortis Hospital states there is a "direct link between pollution and arthritis." He explains, "Air pollutants increase inflammation, oxidative stress, and the production of autoantibodies. Several studies have found that exposure to PM2.5, nitrogen oxides, and ozone increases the risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis."
The profile of the average patient is also changing, raising alarms about the vulnerability of the younger population.
"We previously considered Rheumatoid Arthritis to be primarily genetic, but pollution has changed this perception," says Dr Neeraj Jain of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. "The environmental burden is now upsetting the balance, and even healthy individuals are becoming patients. The fact that RA is increasing among young people with no family history is a serious warning.”
Not only are the number of cases increasing, but their severity is also worsening.
According to Prof Dr Pulin Gupta of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, "We are not only seeing more cases of RA, but also an increase in its severity. In patients who have greater exposure to PM2.5, the disease is presenting in a more aggressive and rapidly progressing form."
The broader societal impact of this trend could be devastating.
"This is not just a medical issue, but a social crisis," says Dr Rohini Handa, a senior specialist at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital. "If pollution levels are not controlled, we are heading towards a generation that will be afflicted by preventable autoimmune diseases. The resulting pain, loss of productivity, and burden on healthcare will be immense for the country."
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A Lifelong Burden And Looming Threat
Experts emphasise that autoimmune diseases like Rheumatoid Arthritis are lifelong conditions with no permanent cure; only management of symptoms is possible.
Currently, it's estimated that about 1 per cent of India's adult population suffers from Rheumatoid Arthritis. However, if pollution continues to be a major trigger, these figures could increase severalfold. Research from China found that long-term exposure to PM2.5 increases the risk of developing Rheumatoid Arthritis by 12 to 18 per cent.
The people of Delhi are now facing the dual threat of both respiratory crises and a rising tide of incurable autoimmune diseases.