Delhi's pollution increases risk of lung cancer, says former AIIMS chief

Air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) is becoming extremely poor. Even before Diwali has arrived, air pollution levels have reached alarming levels. The Air Quality Index (AQI) has crossed the 400 mark, placing it in the "severe" category. In view of this situation, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has, as a precautionary measure, implemented restrictions under Stage-III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the entire NCR with immediate effect.

In a conversation with NDTV, Dr. Randeep Guleria, former Director of Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and a renowned pulmonologist, termed Delhi's pollution a "silent epidemic." He stated that the air quality being observed before Diwali is a very serious problem. According to Dr. Guleria, there has been an increase of approximately 20 per cent in the number of patients in both OPD and emergency departments due to breathing difficulties.

Dr. Guleria warned that evidence is emerging from both India and abroad that long-term exposure to polluted air increases the risk of lung cancer. He explained that bad air exposes the lungs to mutation. Lab studies and clinical data suggest that this risk increases even in people who do not smoke. Furthermore, when asked if dirty air could cause heart attacks, Dr. Guleria replied in the affirmative.

Providing information on the effects on patients, he said that those with asthma, COPD, and heart problems are facing more difficulty in breathing and chest tightness. However, the most concerning matter is that even individuals who are completely healthy and have no underlying respiratory issues are now complaining of throat irritation, difficulty breathing, wheezing, and persistent cough. This condition is identified as bronchial hyperactivity.

According to Dr. Guleria, pollution causes irritation in the trachea and throat, which is why such symptoms are seen even in healthy people. In this, the elderly and children are in the highest risk group and are the most affected. To protect against pollution, he has advised wearing masks, avoiding outdoor activities, and reducing emissions.

On the other hand, Delhi's Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has requested residents to cooperate. In a video posted on X, he stated that the weather is likely to worsen from tomorrow. According to the Meteorological Department's forecast, wind speed is expected to become almost zero, which will cause the air to stagnate and could lead to an even higher AQI.

Dr. Randeep Guleria was the former Director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and is known as a specialist in lung diseases (pulmonologist).