91% of studies in India in last 5 decades linked air pollution to health effects: Analysis

EDNOTE: With file pics New Delhi, Nov 13 (PTI An analysis of more than 180 epidemiological studies examining the health impacts of air pollution across India has found that over 91% of them reported at least one adverse health association with air pollution exposure. These studies, published between 1975 and 2025, also noted that health impacts extend beyond respiratory diseases to cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, pregnancy complications, impaired child growth, tumours, blood disorders, mental and neurocognitive disorders, among others.

The analysis, released on Friday, was done by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), an independent research organisation focused on revealing the trends, causes, and health impacts, as well as the solutions, to air pollution. Notably, out of 180 studies, only 40 examined air pollution's impact on rural populations, of which 38 reported at least one adverse health association, indicating that air pollution's health impacts are not confined to urban areas.