Air Pollution and Newborn Health in India: A Silent Crisis Amid Hopeful Futures

Last Updated Apr - 09 - 2025, 04:57 PM | Source : Fela News

Despite initiatives like NCAP and CAQM, India’s toxic air continues to harm newborns, especially in urban poor communities. Learn how air pollution affects infa

On World Health Day 2025, themed Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures, andstark realities in India’s urban centers highlighted the gap between vision and reality. In cities like Delhi and Patna, newborns face immediate environmental risks due to toxic air, with studies linking air pollution to preterm births, low birth weight, and neonatal respiratory distress. In 2019, over 116,000 Indian infants died within a month of birth due to pollution-related complications.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a major concern, with Indian research confirming its adverse effects on pregnancy and newborn health. Poorer families are disproportionately affected, living in areas with higher pollution and using solid fuels indoors, increasing exposure and health risks.

Government initiatives like the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) aim to reduce pollution, while maternal health schemes now include air pollution awareness. Still, disparities persist. Wealthier families access better protection and healthcare, while poorer groups bear the brunt.

To protect India’s youngest citizens, sustained improvements in air quality and stronger integration of environmental risks in healthcare are essential.