Air Pollution’s Silent Impact: Rising Asthma Rates and Risks to Developing Fetuses
Table of Contents
A growing body of evidence links air pollution not only to respiratory illnesses in children but also to compromised development even before birth, raising concerns about a looming neonatal health crisis.
Every winter, 14-year-old Aahan Bhalla is forced to abandon his passion – cricket. As the smog descends on Delhi and the Air Quality Index (AQI) soars past 300, he struggles to breathe, wheezing and gasping for air mid-game. Aahan has lived with asthma for years, diligently using his inhaler and nasal drops, a routine now mirrored by his eight-year-old sister, who wakes at night without her medication.Visits to doctors’ clinics have become a seasonal necessity for the family.
They are not alone. At the paediatric outpatient department of AIIMS Delhi, Dr. Kana Ram Jat, a professor of Pulmonology, Intensive Care, Tuberculosis and Infectious Diseases, is overwhelmed with children exhibiting similar symptoms – restlessness and exhaustion following severe coughing fits. Many are repeat patients, experiencing recurrent lung infections and breathing difficulties with each changing season. “over the last 10 years, there has been an increasing prevalence of asthma in children,” Dr. Jat explains.”Every November, as pollution levels spike, their numbers increase, with some requiring emergency care for complicated respiratory conditions.”
While Aahan’s mother, Jaya Shroff, was understandably distressed by her children’s diagnoses, their doctor, Dr. Rahul Sharma,additional director of Pulmonology at Fortis Noida,wasn’t entirely surprised. “Asthma and allergies have become increasingly common among children and pre-teens in recent years,” he notes. Aahan’s condition required injectable steroids, and it was during his hospital stay that his sister’s subtle wheezing was detected, leading to her own asthma diagnosis, according to Shroff.
The Roots of the Problem begin In Utero
The crisis, experts say, frequently enough begins before birth. Dr. Kana ram explains that a child’s risk of developing a compromised respiratory system starts while in the mother’s womb, contributing to the increasing need for extended stays in neonatal units. “A foetus exposed to pollutants is frequently enough born with low birth weight, making them more susceptible to allergies and asthma as they grow,” he states.
The developing foetus is entirely reliant on the mother’s blood supply for oxygen and nutrients. When pollutants enter the maternal bloodstream, they are indirectly passed to the foetus, triggering inflammation, oxidative stress, and reduced oxygen delivery. These factors interfere with healthy growth and organ development even before birth. Low birth weight and premature delivery are linked to higher rates of infant mortality, developmental delays, and chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease later in life. Research indicates that pollutants can even cause DNA sequence changes and chromosomal aberrations, increasing vulnerability to various diseases and potentially delaying developmental milestones.
Approximately 30 kilometers from AIIMS Delhi, Dr. Manish Mannan, Head of Paediatrics and Neonatology at Paras Hospital, Gurugram, has been observing patterns in his patients’ respiratory behavior. “Infants with compromised lung capacity require longer stays in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and extended oxygen support,” he says. “The long-term risk is concerning, as it can predispose them to chronic respiratory illnesses in adulthood.”
How air Pollution Impacts Child Health
by Ritika Dutt
Ritika Dutt is a journalist with The Indian Express, specializing in health and science reporting. She has a keen eye for detail and has previously flagged errors in their official reports.Dutt also takes a keen interest in the country’s space program and has written on key missions like Chandrayaan 2 and 3, Aditya L1, and Gaganyaan. She was among the first batch of eleven media fellows with RBM Partnership to End Malaria. She was also selected to participate in the short-term programme on early childhood reporting at Columbia University’s Dart Center. Dutt has a Bachelor’s Degree from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Dialog, Pune and a PG Diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, chennai. She started her reporting career with the Hindustan Times. When not at work, she tries to appease the Duolingo owl with her French skills and sometimes takes to the dance floor.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
