Health and Me

Ishita Roy

30% of Delhi’s Children Are Borderline Asthmatic, Says Doctor, As Young Ones Keep Breathing Toxic Air

Delhi's <span>AQI</span> dropped at 302 on Friday, which is at the lower end of the 'very poor' category. In fact, neighboring cities like Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Gurugram too experienced a lower AQI, with 299, 300, 220, and 232, respectively. India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated that due to the wind speed, the air quality has improved. The IMD also said that cold wave is expected to continue between January 2 and 5. The IMD noted that dense to very dense fog will persist during the night and early morning hours. 

While AQI may have improved slightly, doctors have pointed out that Delhi children are still at risk. In fact, a Medanta Hospital chest surgeon, Dr Harsh Vardhan Puri, 30% of Delhi's children are borderline asthmatic. 

<h2>Delhi Children Most At Risk Of Asthma, Thanks To The Toxic Air</h2>

In an interview with India TV, Dr Puri said that Delhi's air pollution has become a "full-blown" public health crisis, with children bearing the heaviest burden. 

“Thirty per cent of children in Delhi are borderline asthmatic. The disease of asthma has already begun in them,” the doctor notes. He emphasizes that these are not isolated incidents. “We’re seeing this routinely in our OPDs now,” he says, adding that respiratory problems in children have become disturbingly common rather than rare.

According to Dr Puri, children are particularly at risk because their lungs are still growing. “A child’s lungs continue to develop until around the age of 10 or 12,” he explains. “If they’re exposed to high pollution levels during these crucial years, their lungs may never reach their full capacity.”

The impact, he says, can last a lifetime. “We are raising a generation of respiratory cripples,” Dr Puri warns, referring to children who grow up with weaker lungs, reduced stamina, and a much higher risk of asthma and chronic lung diseases at a much younger age.

What makes this more worrying is that the damage often starts quietly. “Even if children don’t show symptoms right away, the groundwork for chronic disease is already being laid,” he says.

<h2>Even before birth, the damage begins</h2>

Dr Puri stresses that pollution doesn’t wait until childhood to cause harm. “This isn’t just your problem or mine,” he says. “It’s a problem for a child who hasn’t even taken their first breath.”

He explains that ultra-fine particles like PM1 are small enough to pass from the lungs into the bloodstream. “Through the placenta, these particles can reach the unborn baby,” he says.

Referring to medical studies, Dr Puri adds that tests of umbilical cord samples have found as many as 276 different pollutants. “These toxins enter the lungs, brain and even the cells of the unborn child long before birth,” he says, underscoring how early the damage begins.

Read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/delhi-will-see-pollution-free-blue-sky-in-next-3-4-years-says-authority-article-153375349" data-type="tilCustomLink">Delhi Will See Pollution-free Blue Sky In Next 3-4 Years, Says Authority</a>

Delhi’s fight against air pollution is set to intensify over the next few years, with the CAQM outlining a multi-pronged plan aimed at delivering “<a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/delhi-will-see-pollution-free-blue-sky-in-next-3-4-years-says-authority-article-153375349" data-type="tilCustomLink">more blue-sky days</a>” for the capital. Rather than relying on emergency measures alone, the strategy focuses on long-term, structural fixes across transport, industry, energy and regional coordination.

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Delhi's AQI dropped at 302 on Friday, which is at the lower end of the 'very poor' category. In fact, neighboring cities like Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Gurugram too experienced a lower AQI, with 299, 300, 220, and 232, respectively. India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated that due to the wind speed, the air quality has improved. The IMD also said that cold wave is expected to continue between January 2 and 5. The IMD noted that dense to very dense fog will persist during the night and early morning hours. While AQI may have improved slightly, doctors have pointed out that Delhi children are still at risk. In fact, a Medanta Hospital chest surgeon, Dr Harsh Vardhan Puri, 30% of Delhi's children are borderline asthmatic. Delhi Children Most At Risk Of Asthma, Thanks To The Toxic AirIn an interview with India TV, Dr Puri said that Delhi's air pollution has become a "full-blown" public health crisis, with children bearing the heaviest burden. “Thirty per cent of children in Delhi are borderline asthmatic. The disease of asthma has already begun in them,” the doctor notes. He emphasizes that these are not isolated incidents. “We’re seeing this routinely in our OPDs now,” he says, adding that respiratory problems in children have become disturbingly common rather than rare.According to Dr Puri, children are particularly at risk because their lungs are still growing. “A child’s lungs continue to develop until around the age of 10 or 12,” he explains. “If they’re exposed to high pollution levels during these crucial years, their lungs may never reach their full capacity.”The impact, he says, can last a lifetime. “We are raising a generation of respiratory cripples,” Dr Puri warns, referring to children who grow up with weaker lungs, reduced stamina, and a much higher risk of asthma and chronic lung diseases at a much younger age.What makes this more worrying is that the damage often starts quietly. “Even if children don’t show symptoms right away, the groundwork for chronic disease is already being laid,” he says.Even before birth, the damage beginsDr Puri stresses that pollution doesn’t wait until childhood to cause harm. “This isn’t just your problem or mine,” he says. “It’s a problem for a child who hasn’t even taken their first breath.”He explains that ultra-fine particles like PM1 are small enough to pass from the lungs into the bloodstream. “Through the placenta, these particles can reach the unborn baby,” he says.Referring to medical studies, Dr Puri adds that tests of umbilical cord samples have found as many as 276 different pollutants. “These toxins enter the lungs, brain and even the cells of the unborn child long before birth,” he says, underscoring how early the damage begins.Read: Delhi Will See Pollution-free Blue Sky In Next 3-4 Years, Says AuthorityDelhi’s fight against air pollution is set to intensify over the next few years, with the CAQM outlining a multi-pronged plan aimed at delivering “more blue-sky days” for the capital. Rather than relying on emergency measures alone, the strategy focuses on long-term, structural fixes across transport, industry, energy and regional coordination.