Delhi’s air quality has taken a severe turn for the worse. As of Monday morning, November 3, 2025, the air across the capital officially slipped into the "Very Poor" category. Government data shows that the Air Quality Index (AQI) hit 316 by 9 am, meaning the air is now considered a significant health risk. In fact, one private monitor estimates that breathing the air in Delhi is currently as harmful as smoking 7.8 cigarettes a day. Researchers and healthcare professionals have explained how pollution not only affects our breathing and lung function, but it affects multiple organs. A 2024 study published in the Scientific Reports journal showed that PM2.5 pollution particles are linked with reduction in life expectancy by 3.7 years. However, when it comes to organ functions, pollution affects different organs differently. Here’s how. Why Does Pollution Affect Our Organ Health? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is when the air contains one or more harmful substances like dust, smoke, fumes, or gas for a long time as they hurt our health. The main way these pollutants affect us is by being breathed in. When you inhale them, they cause damage throughout your body, leading to: Inflammation (swelling)Stress on your cellsA weaker immune systemChanges to your cells that can cause disease (mutagenicity)What Organs Are Affected By Pollution?Here is a list of organs that you may not know were affected by pollution. Brain and Mind According to UC Davis Environmental Health Sciences Center, these pollutants are small they can travel from your lungs directly into your brain. This toxic exposure is concerning for long-term brain health. It's been linked to a higher risk of developing severe conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. It may also impact children, potentially affecting intelligence, and increasing the risk of disorders like autism. Research also shows a higher risk of stroke, depression, and anxiety disorders. Air pollution doesn't just cause disease; it can also cause more immediate, subtle effects on healthy people, which is often called "brain fog" decreased productivity or trouble thinking clearly. Studies across various jobs, from farm workers to office workers—show that short bursts of high outdoor pollution lead to decreased work output. Heart and Lungs According to the WHO, the lungs are hit first, leading to immediate problems like asthma and long-term illnesses like lung cancer or emphysema. Once in the bloodstream, the particles tighten your blood vessels (arteries), which forces the heart to work much harder. This sharply increases your risk for life-threatening events like strokes and heart disease. Skin The Airly organization explains that your skin is naturally covered in a layer of helpful bacteria, fungi, and viruses—called the microbiome. Air pollutants (like smog) disrupt the size and variety of this helpful microbiome. When this balance is broken, harmful bacteria can grow out of control. Being the body’s largest organ and completely exposed, shows damage from air pollution through signs like faster aging, more wrinkles, and rashes. Surprisingly, the internal effects go deeper: prolonged exposure to harmful chemicals found in pollution, such as PAHs and ozone, you face an increased risk of developing skin cancer. Bone According to a 2024 study published in the Current Osteoporosis Reports, growing evidence shows a link between air pollution and a higher risk of osteoporosis, a disease that makes bones weak. This is a major concern for our aging population, as severe bone fractures greatly increase death risk. While we don't know the exact pollutants or how they cause this, initial research suggests inflammation from dirty air may damage the bones. Identifying this pathway could lead to new treatments. Kidney According to the National Kidney Foundation, pollution adds a major toxic burden to your body's internal cleaning crew. A study of 2.5 million U.S. veterans found that breathing polluted air significantly increases the risk of developing kidney disease. The scientists estimated that over the course of the study, air pollution may have caused roughly 45,000 new cases of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and forced over 2,400 patients to start dialysis. While the exact way air pollution damages the kidneys is still unknown, one main idea is that the tiny pollution particles you inhale travel from your lungs into your bloodstream. The kidneys then try to filter this contaminated blood, and in the process, the tiny particles directly damage the kidney cells. Reproductive System According to the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India pregnant people, pollution exposure increases the likelihood of miscarriages and can harm the developing baby, leading to health issues in unborn and newborn children. It threatens the future health of the population. When a pregnant woman is exposed to pollutants, it causes an inflammatory reaction that can harm the pregnancy. This toxic exposure is linked to serious problems, including preterm labor, fetal growth restriction, death of the baby before or during birth. Studies confirm that inhaling tiny pollution particles (PM) and nanoparticles (NP) causes excessive cell damage, leading to mutations in DNA and damage to fats and proteins in the body. Digestive Health According to the Northwell Health Organization, new research suggests that the tiny particles found in it contribute to digestive illnesses. Exposure to pollution also stresses your body. This chronic, pollution-induced stress leads to an overload of inflammation and cell damage (oxidative stress) in the digestive system. This can contribute to common conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Breathing in things like fine particles, fumes, and gases can cause inflammation in the digestive tract. Long-term exposure to dirty air is linked to higher risks of GERD and IBD.
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