Over 80 Padma awardee doctors from across India issued a national advisory on Thursday, warning that the health impact of air pollution has reached an “unmanageable scale”. They stressed that air pollution is no longer a seasonal crisis but a year-round public-health threat. According to them, children, pregnant women, the elderly and patients with chronic heart or lung diseases face the highest risk.
Airborne Microplastics Emerge as a Major Concern
The doctors highlighted growing evidence that microplastics and nanoplastics are infiltrating the human body through the air, further intensifying the burden of non-communicable diseases. Dr Shashank Joshi, Padma Shri awardee and endocrinologist at Lilavati Hospital, noted that microplastics often go unnoticed in public discussions, even though significant exposure occurs in traffic corridors and congested urban spaces.
He cited recent research, including studies from the Indian Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc), showing that microplastics embed themselves in arterial walls. As a result, they raise the risk of heart attack or stroke by 4.5 times within three years.
New Study Shows Microplastics Form 5% of Urban Air Pollution
A peer-reviewed study published in Environment International this month by IISER Kolkata, IMSc Chennai and AIIMS Kalyani recorded, for the first time, inhalable microplastics at human breathing height across markets in four major metros. The study found that airborne microplastics now make up as much as 5% of particulate pollution in Indian cities. These particles primarily originate from synthetic textiles, packaging materials, tyre wear and footwear.
Delhi showed some of the highest concentrations, particularly in busy markets and heavily trafficked corridors. Researchers detected particles under 10 microns—small enough to reach deep into the lungs—and warned that these microplastics can also carry pathogenic bacteria and viruses.
Evidence Links Microplastics to Cardiovascular Risk
Another study published in the New England Journal of Medicine earlier this year found micro- and nanoplastic particles in the carotid artery plaques of surgical patients. Those with detectable plastic particles had a 4.5-times higher risk of heart attack, stroke or death during nearly three years of follow-up.
Pollution’s Hidden Impact on Diabetes and Metabolic Health
Senior endocrinologist and Padma awardee Dr Ambrish Mithal pointed to emerging research linking air pollution—including microplastic exposure—to metabolic disorders such as diabetes. He explained that microplastics accumulate in tissues, trigger inflammation, cause oxidative stress and disrupt the gut microbiome, all of which contribute to insulin resistance.
He referred to a study presented at the American Diabetes Association meeting that identified Bisphenol A (BPA), a common component of plastic bottles, as a trigger for rapid insulin resistance even at levels considered safe by regulators. Dr Mithal added that pollutants might explain the exponential rise in diabetes globally over the last three decades. India now has over 10 crore people with diabetes and 13 crore with prediabetes.
He also warned that microplastics may contribute to gestational diabetes and metabolic disturbances during pregnancy. Additionally, he advised avoiding liquids stored in sun-exposed plastic bottles, which can release harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Stainless steel or glass alternatives are safer, he said.
Doctors Recommend Immediate Protection Measures
As reported by Indian Express, the advisory recommends several personal protection strategies. These include using air purifiers and N95 masks when possible, wet-mopping floors, avoiding incense sticks and mosquito coils, and improving kitchen ventilation. The group also advised that children should avoid outdoor assemblies on high-AQI days. Moreover, pregnant women, older adults and those with heart or lung disease should minimise exposure.
Call for Stronger Policy Action Against Pollution
At the policy level, the doctors urged authorities to revise GRAP thresholds, declare severe pollution episodes as public-health emergencies, restrict diesel vehicles and generators, and strictly enforce rules on construction dust and waste burning. They also demanded a national microplastics monitoring programme and better coordination among North Indian states.
They concluded that without urgent systemic interventions, India risks “long-term and irreversible health damage across generations.”