Pollution vs unborn kids: 70% chances of premature birth after exposure to air pollution, says study
India's health survey of 2019-21 reveals that 13 per cent of children were born prematurely, and 17 per cent with low birth weight, the research says.
A team of experts from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, and institutes in the UK and Ireland looked at the National Family Health Survey-5 and remote sensing data to analyse effects of air pollution in pregnancy, news agency PTI reported. What research says
The national health survey 2019-21 says 13 per cent of children were born prematurely; 17 per cent with a low weight at birth, with air pollution contributing to this. Climate conditions, such as rainfall and temperature, were found to have a link too.
Another data point brings into focus North India, where Delhi and other cities see massive spikes in pollution during the post-monsoon months of August-November. The rest of the year does not see significant dips either.
What is PM2.5? Measuring under 2.5 microns in diameter, fine particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) is considered among the most harmful air pollutants, sources of which include burning of fossil fuels and biomass. Which region tops the chart?
The researchers found higher levels of PM2.5 in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Punjab and Haryana, and lower levels in the South and North-East.
In sync with that finding, more premature births were seen in Himachal Pradesh (39 per cent), Uttarakhand (27 per cent), Rajasthan (18 per cent), and Delhi (17 per cent).
Punjab was found to be the worst in this with lower birth weight among 22 per cent children. Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and UP followed.
The authors called for targeted schemes, and an intensification of the National Clean Air Programme, the news agency reported.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Print
an hour ago
- The Print
Puducherry's shift to 100 pc rapid molecular test improves TB diagnosis
One untreated TB individual can infect a minimum of 10-15 persons per year. If these patients had gone undetected, they would have transmitted the disease in the community, Dr C Venkatesh, State TB Officer of Puducherry, said. Puducherry, Jul 4 (PTI) A complete shift from traditional microscopy testing to rapid molecular testing over the past five years has enabled early detection of tuberculosis cases, improving the diagnosis of microbiologically confirmed TB cases by around 30 per cent in Puducherry, officials said. In 2018, only 13 per cent of patients could undergo molecular/NAAT test as an initial diagnostic test. However, with the concerted efforts of the Puducherry State TB Cell, 100 per cent of TB suspects are now being tested using Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing (NAAT), Dr Venkatesh said. This means patients are now receiving quicker and more accurate tests and signifies the precious treatment time that is saved by the health department in saving lives, he said. Under the Presumptive TB Examination Rate (PTEBR) framework, Puducherry has aggressively implemented programmatic reforms aimed at early detection, efficient diagnostics, community engagement, and nutritional support. 'A key pillar has been the shift to 100 per cent upfront NAAT for all presumptive TB cases, thanks to the 100 days campaign- Nikshay Shivir initiative where this could be more widely advocated for and helped sustained in practice within the UT, respectively,' Dr Venkatesh said. This has led to a 30 per cent increase in microbiologically confirmed TB cases and faster treatment initiation, especially in drug-resistant cases, he said. Complementing this is the performance of the Intermediate Reference Laboratory (IRL) at the Government Chest Hospital, which ranked first nationally in 2024. It processes over 1.2 lakh samples annually and caters to both Puducherry and seven districts of Tamil Nadu compounding to around two crore population, District Magistrate, Puducherry A Kulothungan said. As a result, the UT saw testing rates increase from 2,233/lakh in 2015 to 5,268/lakh in first quarter of 2025, a 136 per cent improvement. 'TB incidence has dropped by 59 per cent since 2015, earning Puducherry a silver medal in India's Sub-National TB Certification in 2022,' Kulothungan said. The shift to NAAT testing has improved two aspects– firstly in microscopy testing heavy bacterial load (10000 bacteria per ml) in a given sample is needed, whereas in the genetic molecular testing (NAAT test) even less than thousand bacteria in a given sample can be detected, explained Dr S Govindarajan, Mission Director of National Health Mission (NHM), Puducherry. Secondly, through the microscopic testing we can confirm the presence of TB bacteria alone, Dr Govindarajan explained. In the NAAT test, apart from diagnosis of TB bacteria simultaneously the resistance pattern of the key TB drug— Rifampicin–can be detected, he stated. Puducherry was recognised by the Union Minister of Health for its sustained efforts during the 100-day campaign which ended on March 17. During the 100-day campaign, over 3.8 lakh vulnerable individuals were screened using door-to-door Active Case Finding( ACF) and AI-based hand held X-ray devices, Dr Govindarajan said. Modern tools like AI-enabled chest X-rays and NAAT are deployed at scale, supporting even distant places such as Mahe, Yanam and Karaikal. In 2025, eight villages were declared TB-Free – Sivaranthagam, Ariyur(N), Vathanur, Soriyankuppam, Kudiyiruppalaya, Pooranankuppam, Sembipalayam and Korkadu, Dr Venkatesh added. PTI PLB DV DV This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
'My comments were in haste', says Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw after CM Siddaramaiah's clarification
Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has clarified her stance on Covid-19 vaccine approvals, stating that her earlier remarks may have been made in haste, while reiterating her confidence in the rigorous processes followed for vaccine approval in India. Shaw's earlier post had strongly defended the vaccine approval process in India.(PTI File Photo) Responding to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's recent statement on the government's intent behind probing a spate of sudden deaths in Hassan district, Shaw wrote on X, 'I agree with Hon CM @siddaramaiah re asking questions n seeking answers in science. However, my comments related to whether Covid vaccines were approved in haste n my response was that due process was followed as prescribed by WHO for safety n efficacy for EUA. Losing lives in a sudden manner is always tragic n I am glad an investigation is being conducted in Hassan District.' Read her full post here: Her remarks come after Siddaramaiah defended his decision to order an inquiry into recent heart-related deaths in Hassan, many of which affected young individuals. In a detailed response posted online, the Chief Minister clarified that his comments were not meant to question the science behind Covid-19 vaccines, but to address the genuine concerns of families who had lost loved ones unexpectedly. 'Seeking clarity is not misinformation; it is an act of governance rooted in empathy,' Siddaramaiah wrote, adding that while vaccines saved lives, scientific literature has acknowledged rare but serious side effects, including cardiac events. He cited admissions by vaccine manufacturers like AstraZeneca, and peer-reviewed studies in reputed journals discussing vaccine-linked myocarditis and cardiac arrest, especially among young adults. Shaw's earlier post had strongly defended the vaccine approval process in India, calling suggestions of hasty clearances 'factually incorrect' and potentially harmful. 'These vaccines have saved millions of lives and, like all vaccines, may cause side effects in a very small number of individuals,' she had written, urging public discourse to remain rooted in science and evidence. (Also Read: Siddaramaiah responds to Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw's criticism, says 'Seeking answers is our duty, not blame')
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Two suspected Nipah virus cases flagged in Kerala, three districts on alert
Kerala health authorities issued an alert across several districts in the northern part of the state after two people showed possible symptoms of the Nipah virus infection. Kerala had faced an earlier outbreak of the Nipah virus disease in 2018. Kerala health minister Veena George confirmed that preventive measures have been strengthened in line with the Nipah protocol.(PIxabay/representational) After the suspected cases were flagged during routine testing at government medical colleges in Malappuram and Palakkad, officials issued an alert in both the districts and Kozhikode, with 26 special teams deployed in each of them to carry out contact tracing, monitor symptoms and inform the public. According to a PTI report, samples were immediately rushed to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for confirmation. Kerala health minister Veena George after chairing an emergency meeting to assess the situation, confirmed that preventive measures have been strengthened in line with the Nipah protocol. She added that the ministry has sought help from the police to identify people who may have been exposed to the patients. The ministry is setting up state and local helplines to assist the public. Officials are also urged to check if any unnatural or unexplained deaths have occurred in recent weeks. George termed deaths as 'one of the key warning signs of a potential outbreak'. District collectors have also been asked to prepare containment zones, with public announcements being made to raise awareness. The ministry is scheduled to hold another meeting this evening, aiming to discuss the evolving situation and ensure that all precautionary measures are in place. According to a report by the World Health Organization, the Nipah virus disease outbreak was reported in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts of Kerala in May 2018. It was the third of Nipah virus outbreaks in India, the earlier being in 2001 and 2007, both in West Bengal. During the 2018 Kerala outbreak, a total of 23 cases were identified.
