Top Doctors Declare Air Pollution A Life-Threatening Crisis

As hospitals fill with patients suffering from pollution-related illnesses—from chest infections and eye irritation to heart disease—highlighting the rapid escalation of the crisis, more than 80 Padma Awardee doctors from across medical specialties have issued a joint advisory, describing the situation as “deeply troubling and medically unacceptable.”

They warned that India is facing a full-blown health emergency, with air pollution no longer a seasonal or environmental issue but a daily, life-threatening hazard—particularly for children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with heart or lung disease.

According to 2025 estimates cited by the health experts, nearly 1.7 million Indians die every year due to polluted air. Over one-third of all respiratory deaths and nearly 40% of stroke-related deaths are directly linked to air pollution. PM2.5 levels in North India routinely reach 20 to 40 times the WHO’s safe limit, and almost 70% of Indians breathe unsafe air every day. Alarmingly, nearly four lakh children die annually from toxic air exposure.

The advisory highlights that the damage goes far beyond coughs or asthma. Long-term exposure to PM2.5 can cause chromosomal breakage, telomere shortening and genetic instability, heightening the risk of cancer, lifelong illness and worsening diabetes.

“Microplastics and nanoplastics—now detected in air near busy roads—trigger chronic inflammation and disrupt hormones. Chemicals like VOCs, hydrocarbons and heavy metals are contributing to cancers, delayed child development, memory decline and poor control of hypertension and diabetes,” they said.

The doctors explained that pollution affects the body differently depending on the duration of exposure. Immediate exposure can cause burning eyes, throat irritation, asthma attacks and sudden spikes in blood pressure. Short-term exposure aggravates asthma and COPD, increases infection risk and makes chronic diseases—especially diabetes—harder to control. Long-term exposure is the most dangerous: it causes permanent lung damage in children, increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer, and contributes to long-term neurological decline.

When contacted, Padma Shri Dr. Mahipal Singh Sachdev, Chairman of Centre for Sight Group of Eye Hospitals, told The Health Outlook that clean air should be a basic right, yet the reality remains far from it. The advisory, he said, is an SOS to authorities, making it clear that the situation is no longer normal.

Air pollution, he explained, is not just a threat to the lungs—it affects every exposed surface of the body, with the eyes often suffering first. “What the lungs inhale, the eyes endure.”

Fine particulate matter and toxic gases and ozone trigger oxidative stress, fuel inflammation and disrupt meibomian gland function. This leads to burning, redness, watering, foreign-body sensation, photophobia and blurred vision—symptoms of dry eye disease, allergic or irritative conjunctivitis and meibomian gland dysfunction, he said. Over time, continuous exposure accelerates Age-Related Macular Degeneration, speeds up cataract formation and may contribute to glaucomatous optic nerve damage—changes that are often irreversible.

Pollution weakens the eye’s natural defences, increasing vulnerability to severe allergies and persistent infections. Children, people with existing eye conditions, daily commuters and residents of smog-hit cities face the highest risk, he said and advised that until systemic solutions arrive, simple precautions can ease eye irritation.

“Wrap-around sunglasses and masks protect against dust and airborne irritants. Indoors, air purifiers, good ventilation and reduced smoke or dust exposure help improve air quality. Avoid rubbing the eyes, stay hydrated, eat antioxidant-rich foods and use preservative-free lubricating drops for dryness. Avoid self-medicating with random OTC eye drops. Annual eye check-ups are essential, with more frequent visits for those with pre-existing conditions.”

In their advisory, the Padma Awardee doctors have urged the government to adopt emergency-level measures. They called for updating GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) thresholds to reflect actual health risks, declaring severe pollution days as public health emergencies and enforcing strict controls on construction dust, industrial emissions and open burning. They recommended phasing out old diesel vehicles and generators, along with rapid expansion of electric public transport to reduce traffic emissions.

To protect children, the advisory proposes AQI-linked school safety protocols—cancelling outdoor activities on high pollution days and adjusting school operations based on air quality. Recognising the emerging threat of plastic particles in the air, the doctors urged a national programme to monitor microplastics and stricter controls on hazardous waste and heavy metals. They also recommended reducing tyre wear, waste burning and other sources of microplastics.

They stressed the need for coordinated multi-state efforts, noting that pollution crosses state boundaries and demands unified action.

The advisory signed by some of India’s most respected medical experts, including Air Marshal Dr. Padma Bandopadhyay, Dr. (Lt Gen) BN Shahi, Dr. AK Bhalla, Dr. AK Grover, Dr. Alaka Deshpande, Dr. Alka Kriplani, Dr. Ambrish Mithal, Dr. Anil Kohli, Dr. Anoop Misra, Dr. Arvind Lal, Dr. Arvinder Singh Soin, Dr. Ashok Gupta, Dr. Ashok Seth, also outlines steps for individuals.

“Those who can afford it should use HEPA air purifiers at home, wear N95 masks outdoors and avoid going out on high AQI days. Homes without purifiers should wet mop, avoid incense, camphor and mosquito coils, ensure kitchen ventilation and use triple-layer masks. Children should avoid outdoor assemblies on polluted days. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with heart or lung disease must minimise exposure. Vulnerable groups are also advised to take pneumonia and influenza vaccines,” it added.

The doctors underscored that while personal precautions help, systemic change is the only lasting solution. Clean air, they said, must be treated as a non-negotiable human right. Without urgent collective action, India risks irreversible health damage across future generations.

The advisory was also signed by leading specialists including Dr. DS Rana (Nephrology), Dr. Daljeet Singh Gambhir (Cardiology), Dr. Deepak Sehgal (Molecular Biology), Dr. Devendra Triguna (Ayurveda), Dr. Dinesh Bhargava (Gastroenterology), Dr. Harsh Kumar (Ophthalmology – glaucoma), Dr. Harsh Mahajan (Radiology), Dr. Himmatrao Bawaskar (Internal Medicine & Toxicology), Dr. JM Hans (ENT & cochlear implants), Dr. Jagdish Prasad (Cardiothoracic Surgery; former DGHS), Dr. JS Titiyal (Cornea & Refractive Surgery), Dr. Kameshwar Prasad (Neurology), Dr. MV Padma Srivastava (Neurology & Stroke), Dr. Mahesh Verma (Dentistry), Dr. Mohsin Wali (Internal Medicine), Dr. Naresh Trehan (Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery), Dr. Neelam Kler (Neonatology), Dr. Neerja Bhatla (Gynaecologic Oncology), Dr. Nikhil Tandon (Endocrinology), Dr. Purshotam Lal (Interventional Cardiology), Dr. RK Grover (Ophthalmology), Dr. Randeep Guleria (Pulmonology; former AIIMS Director), Dr. Randhir Sud (Gastroenterology), Dr. SP Mandal (Psychiatry), Dr. Sandeep Guleria (Kidney Transplant Surgery), and Dr. Sanjeev Bagai (Paediatrics) among others.