Delhi's air becomes a 'medical emergency', AIIMS experts issue strict alert on rising air pollution in the capital.

Describing the capital's rising air pollution as a medical emergency, experts from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) said the crisis has become so widespread that government measures are important, but not sufficient, to address it. The government will need to make war-level efforts.

Prof. Dr. Anant Mohan, Head of the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Sleep Medicine at AIIMS, and his colleague, Dr. Saurabh Mittal, said at a press conference that Delhi's rising air pollution poses a serious threat not only to the lungs but also to pregnant women, fetuses and newborns, the elderly, and patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. This constitutes a public health emergency.

'Today's toxic air is tomorrow's serious illness'

They warned that 'today's toxic air is tomorrow's serious illness'. If action is not taken now, the health of future generations will pay a heavy price. Dr. Anant Mohan explained that pregnant women are the most severely impacted by rising air pollution. Ultra-fine particles present in the air are reaching the fetus through the mother's body, affecting the fetus's growth.

Prof. Dr. Anant Mohan said that such babies are more likely to be born with low birth weight and their lungs may become weak later in life. This effect is sometimes visible years after birth. Dr. Saurabh Mittal said that pollution is no longer limited to respiratory diseases. Continuously breathing toxic air is increasing problems like lung inflammation, shortness of breath, asthma attacks, and COPD.

Furthermore, fine particles are entering the bloodstream and affecting the heart and brain, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. He said that these days, 20 to 30 people are reaching hospitals due to pollution.