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Delhi children grow up with smaller lungs due to pollution, says study

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9 years ago

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Delhi children grow up with smaller lungs due to pollution, says study

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Children growing up in polluted environments of Delhi have reduced lung growth compared to the children in developed countries like the US, a study published in the Journal of Indian Paediatrics has revealed.

The study was conducted by Prof SK Chhabra, former Director-Professor at Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute and current Head of Department, Pulmonary Medicine, Primus Hospital, New Delhi.

The study shows that while children in both India and the US have nearly the same lung size till the age of about 8 years, when lungs complete their normal physical growth, subsequent growth is progressively different in both nations. Indian children show slower lung growth and reach a final size that is lower than the growth and size found in Caucasian children in the US.  Lung size in both Indian boys and girls is about 10% smaller when they reach adulthood.

The study highlights that air quality and childhood infections adversely affect lung growth besides genetic factors. Smaller lungs translate into poorer exercise capacity and greater vulnerability to respiratory symptoms and diseases. Given the fact that 40 percent of Indian children reside in cities, this is a serious situation.

The state level record, said a release from Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), also exposes the following:

— Since 1990 overall life expectancy has gone up from about average 64 years to 73 years in 2016 in Delhi. But the quality of life shows significant decline as the overall disease burden in the city has increased.

The share of non communicable diseases that are largely affected by the environmental risk factors including air pollution are increasing very rapidly affecting all age groups. Even though the share of communicable diseases has come down, this benefit has been offset by the dramatic increase in non-communicable dieses.

— Diseases that are worst affected by air pollution including cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases (COPD), and cancers have shown dramatic increase since 1990. In 1990 COPD was ranked 13 among leading causes of illness and lost life years. But this has now shot up to rank 3. Similarly, Ischemic heart disease that greatly influenced by air pollution has gone up from rank 5 to number 1; and diabetes from rank 22 to rank 5 and stroke from rank 16 to rank 15.

—  Making mockery of the population dividend, the younger age group in the city (40-69 years age), more than 60 per cent of them, are affected in varying proportion by chronic respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, and cancers.  This age group contributes 41 per cent of total deaths in the city.

— Ischemic heart disease and lower respiratory infections are the top two leading causes of deaths among female and males. In fact the GBD has already established that in India more than 50 per cent of the premature deaths that is triggered by air pollution are from ischemic heart disease.

“If this does not wake us up to the health emergency, what will? Those who are in denial of environmental pollution-related deaths and illness in India should understand that the scary death tally and illness of Indians and children makes a mockery of India’s growth story,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment.

“India will have to do drastically a lot more to reduce pollution exposure and not less of it. It will be criminal not to act on the mounting health evidences and ask for more evidences from our own children, elderly and vulnerable. Indian lung is not different from others.”

Air pollution takes six million lives each year worldwide, and India tops the list where 1.9 million premature deaths occur due to outdoor and indoor air pollution, says the Report of the Lancet Commission on Health and Pollution.

The release issued by the CSE noted that leading medical and public health experts came together on Tuesday under the aegis of the Indian Council of Medical Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, to release the first-ever systematic assessment of burden of disease at both the national and State-level in India. The report notes the progress in increasing life expectancy across the country and in all States, although improvements vary substantially across States. However, the report warns that air pollution remains the second most important risk factor nationally.

The CSE release also noted that the Report of the Lancet Commission on Health and Pollution has looked at the full range of environmental health risks reporting, based on the systematic Global Burden of Disease estimate. This shows some 9 million deaths occur each year worldwide due to air water and chemical exposures. Air pollution is at the top of the list, with outdoor and indoor air pollution contributing the lion’s share, some 6 million deaths. India remains one of the worst affected where 1.9 million premature deaths occur due to outdoor and indoor air pollution.

The group noted that the evidence makes it clear that comprehensive and long-term strategies for reducing air pollution are critical to protect public health. At the same time, they note that this is likely an underestimate and that there are many exposures for which data is not yet strong enough to quantify the effects.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Dharmendra Pradhan accuses Rahul Gandhi of exploiting students over NEET protest

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan accused Rahul Gandhi and the Congress of exploiting students during the NEET protest, while reiterating the Centre’s commitment to discussing the issue in Parliament and implementing reforms.

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10 mins ago

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July 22, 2026

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Dharmendra Pradhan

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the protest held outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence on Tuesday, accusing the Opposition of using students for political purposes amid the controversy over the NEET paper leak and other examination-related issues.

Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several Congress leaders and workers staged the protest, raising concerns over the alleged NEET paper leak and other examination leaks. The demonstration also highlighted the alleged police action against students who participated in a march to Parliament organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) a day earlier.

The protest continued until the evening before police detained Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other leaders. They were later released the same night.

Pradhan says Parliament discussion was offered

Responding to the protest, Mr Pradhan alleged that the Congress was attempting to create disruption during the Monsoon Session of Parliament by turning students into political tools. He also claimed the demonstration violated security protocols and caused inconvenience to the public.

The minister referred to remarks made by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who had earlier said he spoke with Rahul Gandhi during the protest. According to Mr Singh, the Centre agreed to hold a discussion in Parliament on the paper leak issue, but Rahul Gandhi later added another demand after that assurance.

Mr Pradhan said the government had already expressed its willingness to hold a comprehensive discussion on the issue in Parliament, but alleged that the Congress preferred political confrontation over democratic debate.

Centre reiterates commitment to students

The Education Minister said the government remains committed to discussing the NEET controversy and addressing the concerns of students and young people through Parliament.

In a post on X, Mr Pradhan said students deserve certainty, solutions and accountability rather than political confrontation. He added that the Centre remains committed to delivering reforms and answering students’ concerns while working to strengthen the examination system.

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Rahul Gandhi lists five demands to Centre after detention over NEET paper leak protest

Rahul Gandhi released a five-point demand list after being detained during a protest over the alleged NEET paper leak issue, seeking ministers’ resignations, Parliament debate and education reforms.

Published

21 mins ago

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July 22, 2026

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Rahul Gandhi Detention

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday placed five demands before the Centre after he and several senior Congress leaders were detained during a protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence over the alleged NEET paper leak controversy.

The developments came after a day of political confrontation in the national capital, with the Opposition intensifying its protests over action taken against student demonstrators.

Rahul Gandhi demands resignations and reforms

While in detention, Rahul Gandhi released a video message outlining five demands for the government. He called for the resignations of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the controversy.

He also demanded action against police personnel accused of assaulting students during Monday’s protests and sought the withdrawal of cases registered against students.

Rahul Gandhi further asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apologise for the crackdown on protesters, sought a discussion on the issue in Parliament, and called for education and examination reforms at the earliest.

Congress leaders detained during protest

Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several Congress leaders were detained by Delhi Police while staging a sit-in outside the Prime Minister’s residence at Lok Kalyan Marg. They were later released in the evening.

Rahul Gandhi was taken to Chhatrasal Stadium, while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was taken to Mandir Marg police station. Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi visited Priyanka Gandhi during her detention.

Questioning the country’s education system, Rahul Gandhi alleged that recurring examination paper leaks and rising education costs had created serious concerns for students and their families. He also said the Opposition wanted the matter to be discussed in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Government accuses Congress of politicising the issue

Earlier in the day, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh met Rahul Gandhi at the protest site and held discussions for around 30 minutes.

Later, Singh alleged that Rahul Gandhi had changed his demands after the government agreed to discuss the NEET issue in Parliament, claiming the Congress leader subsequently insisted on the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Responding to the protest, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan accused Rahul Gandhi and the Congress of exploiting students for political purposes. He said the government had already expressed its willingness to hold a comprehensive discussion in Parliament and alleged that the Opposition was choosing political confrontation over democratic debate.

The political confrontation is expected to continue as the Opposition presses the government over the alleged examination paper leak issue.

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Sonam Wangchuk shifted to Medanta after Delhi High Court order

Activist Sonam Wangchuk was transferred from Safdarjung Hospital to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram after the Delhi High Court directed his immediate shift and ordered continuous medical supervision.

Published

12 hours ago

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July 21, 2026

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Activist Sonam Wangchuk was shifted from Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram on Tuesday evening after the Delhi High Court directed his immediate transfer for further treatment.

Hospital authorities said Wangchuk was discharged from VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital at 6:40 pm and handed over to a medical team from Medanta in compliance with the court’s order issued on July 21.

Court orders transfer and continuous monitoring

A bench comprising Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia directed that Wangchuk be shifted to Medanta Hospital without delay.

The court also instructed the hospital’s director to constitute a team of doctors with the required expertise to continuously monitor his health. It said the medical team should administer treatment in accordance with accepted medical protocols, which Wangchuk must follow.

The order came on an appeal filed by Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, challenging an earlier High Court decision that had declined to interfere with his treatment at Safdarjung Hospital or permit his transfer to Medanta.

Medical condition stable at discharge

According to Safdarjung Hospital, Wangchuk’s vital parameters were stable at the time of discharge.

However, doctors said pancytopenia continued to persist and his serum potassium level was recorded at 3.4 mEq/L.

The hospital added that all medical records, investigation reports and treatment documents were handed over to the Medanta medical team to ensure continuity of care.

Court cites constitutional rights

In its order, the Delhi High Court observed that Wangchuk should be allowed to receive treatment at a hospital of his choice, saying such a decision was protected under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution.

Wangchuk has been on an indefinite fast since June 28 over alleged examination irregularities.

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