Busting Air Pollution Myths: Why It’s Not Just a Winter Problem

For many people, air pollution feels like a “seasonal villain," something that arrives with the winter chill and disappears once temperatures rise. But this is one of the biggest misconceptions about air quality

today. While Delhi winter smog may be more visible and easier to blame, pollution is a year-round issue shaped by how we live, move, build, farm, and consume. The truth is, toxic air simply looks different in different seasons, but it never really goes away. And understanding this is the first step to protecting our lungs, our children, and our cities.One of the most persistent myths is that pollution spikes only because of cold weather or Diwali cracker burnings. Winter does worsen air stagnation, but pollutants are in the atmosphere long before the smog becomes noticeable. During summer, sunlight and heat transform certain emissions into dangerous ground-level ozone, a pollutant that irritates the lungs even more aggressively than winter dust. So while the haze may be less visible, the air can still be hazardous.

Another myth is that indoor air is cleaner than outdoor air. In reality, indoor pollution can be 2-5x worse, thanks to dust, aerosols, incense, cooking smoke, leaking gases, pet dander, poor ventilation, and chemicals emitted from furniture and cleaning products. Many people feel “safe” indoors when air quality dips, without realizing that the sealed environment traps and intensifies pollutants.A third misconception is that air pollution only affects people with asthma or elderly individuals. Modern research makes it clear: no one is immune. Children absorb pollutants faster because they breathe quicker and their lungs are still developing. Adults face risks like heart disease, stroke, reproductive issues, and even cognitive decline. Even athletes and people who appear perfectly healthy are affected on a cellular level.People also believe pollution is only caused by vehicles or stubble burning. While both are major contributors, pollution is a complex mix of factors: industrial emissions, construction dust, waste burning, diesel generators, household fuels, congested roads, and even microplastics. Blaming a single cause oversimplifies the problem and delays real solutions.The idea that “air purifiers can fix everything” is another modern myth. Purifiers help, but only in confined indoor spaces, never in open environments. They are a supportive measure, not a cure.

The core truth is this: air pollution doesn’t take a holiday. It shifts shapes across seasons, becomes more visible or invisible, more dry or more chemical, but it is always present. And our response must be just as constant. Long-term changes like cleaner transport, greener urban planning, waste management reforms, and awareness about indoor exposure are what truly make a difference.The more we recognize air pollution as a daily reality rather than a winter inconvenience, the quicker we can push for cleaner air, for ourselves, and for the generations that will breathe after us.