Breathing polluted air daily? Here's how it affects your lungs and body

We inhale approximately 10,000 liters of air every day, making clean air essential for good health. As dense fog engulfs Delhi and the air becomes poisonous, breathing becomes a daily risk. Polluted air doesn’t just irritate your throat – it silently damages your lungs and affects your entire body. Here’s how it affects your lungs and overall health. (Image: Canva)

How do lungs work? Your lungs help your body take in oxygen and remove carbon dioxide. When you breathe, air travels through your nose, through the pharynx and trachea into tiny air passages called bronchi and bronchioles, and then to tiny air sacs called alveoli. In the alveoli, oxygen from the air moves into the bloodstream, while carbon dioxide from the blood moves into the lungs for breathing. Hair-like cilia in the respiratory tract help trap and expel dust and germs to keep your airways clear. (Image: Canva)

How does polluted air harm the lungs? When the air is polluted, harmful particles enter the body through the nose and go deep into the lungs. Although the respiratory tract has cilia that trap some pollutants and push them out, many particles still make their way into the airways and even reach the delicate alveoli in the lungs. The immune system recognizes these pollutants as foreign bodies and tries to attack them, causing inflammation that can damage lung tissue. Some smaller particles can also bypass the protection of the lungs, enter the bloodstream, and travel to other organs, including the brain and placenta. (Image: Canva)

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Long term health effects Prolonged exposure to polluted air can cause serious harm to your health. Over time, breathing toxic air can reduce lung function, accelerate lung aging and increase the risk of chronic respiratory diseases, especially in children. It can also aggravate asthma and cause heart problems, including irregular heartbeat. Long-term exposure may also increase the risk of life-threatening conditions such as heart disease, cancer and premature death, especially in people with existing heart or lung conditions. (Image: Canva)

Short-term health effects Short-term exposure to polluted air can affect everyone – even healthy people. Breathing polluted air for a short period of time can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, cough, chest tightness and difficulty breathing. In some cases, it may also trigger respiratory infections or aggravate existing conditions like asthma and bronchitis. (Image: Canva)

Who is most at risk? Some groups are more sensitive to the harmful effects of polluted air. Children, the elderly, and pregnant women face greater risk because their bodies are either still developing or are more sensitive to toxins. People with lung diseases such as asthma, COPD and emphysema, as well as heart disease, are particularly vulnerable to complications. Outdoor workers and athletes who breathe heavily during physical activity are also at greater risk due to higher exposure levels. These groups require additional protection during high pollution periods. (Image: Canva)