Rising pollution taking toll on lungs, say Nagpur docs

Nagpur: Worsening air quality in Nagpur is beginning to show a direct impact on public health, with doctors reporting a sharp rise in respiratory ailments linked to pollution exposure. Early indicators for 2026 suggest the city's air quality index (AQI) could rise by nearly 34% over last year, frequently pushing air quality into the "moderate" to "unhealthy" category and exposing residents to unsafe particulate levels.Pulmonologists in the city say respiratory complaints have increased by nearly 20% in recent months, with more patients reporting asthma flare-ups, chronic cough, wheezing, and breathing discomfort. Alarmingly, doctors are also witnessing a growing number of young and healthy individuals seeking treatment for pollution-related respiratory symptoms.Speaking on the occasion of World Asthma Day, professor and head, pulmonology, Superspecialty Hospital, Govt Medical College and Hospital, Dr Sushant H Meshram said asthma in India can no longer be viewed merely as a medical condition treated with inhalers and nebulisers. "Today, asthma must also be discussed in terms of the air we breathe, the environments we build and the preventable exposures we continue to normalise," he said.Dr Meshram identified construction dust as one of the most under-recognised yet serious triggers behind the rising asthma burden in urban India. Rapid urbanisation, road digging, demolition work, cement mixing, and debris transport expose citizens to harmful particulate matter, silica, diesel exhaust, and heavy metals."These particles trigger airway inflammation, worsen bronchial hyperreactivity, and aggravate asthma symptoms in both children and adults," he said. In children, prolonged exposure can affect lung growth and increase recurrent wheezing, while adults experience worsening cough, chest tightness, and declining lung function.Doctors said that pollution-related exposure rarely acts alone. Vehicular emissions, biomass smoke, mosquito coils, passive smoking, incense, industrial pollutants, and poor indoor ventilation collectively contribute to chronic airway injury.Calling for urgent preventive measures, Dr Meshram stressed the need for stricter dust-control norms at construction sites, cleaner commuting corridors, improved indoor ventilation, and early diagnosis of asthma symptoms.Vidarbha Chest Association president Dr Rajesh Swarnakar cautioned against widespread misconceptions regarding inhaler use."Inhalers are not only for severe asthma. They are essential even in mild asthma to prevent worsening. Inhaled steroids are not addictive and, when used correctly, inhalers are safe, effective, and often easier to use than nebulisers," he said.Respiratory experts believe that unless pollution control and public awareness improve, asthma and chronic respiratory illnesses will continue to rise across urban centres like Nagpur.