Men may be inhaling significantly more toxic air than women, leaving them at greater risk from pollution-related illnesses, a new study has found. Research conducted by scientists at Netaji Subhash University
of Technology (NSUT), Delhi, suggests that biological differences and lifestyle patterns together make men more vulnerable to the harmful effects of polluted air, particularly fine particulate matter.
The study, which analysed five years of data, found a clear gender gap in how toxic particles are absorbed by the lungs. According to the researchers, men’s lungs tend to take in a higher dose of polluted air than women’s under similar conditions. This challenges the popular belief that women fall ill more easily and instead points to a silent but serious risk faced by men in polluted environments.
At the heart of the findings is PM2.5, the extremely fine particulate matter considered among the most dangerous air pollutants because it can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream. The researchers measured what they call the Respiratory Deposition Dose (RDD), or the amount of polluted air particles deposited in the lungs per second. When sitting, a man’s RDD was found to be about 1.4 times higher than that of a woman. While walking, it was roughly 1.2 times higher, indicating that men consistently inhale a larger load of toxic particles across activity levels.
Explaining the reasons behind this disparity, Gaurav Saini, co-author of the study from NSUT’s Civil Engineering Department, told The Times of India that men are generally more exposed to outdoor air pollution because of work and daily routines. “While men are more exposed to outdoor pollution, women tend to face higher exposure to indoor air pollution,” he said, adding that breathing rates and physical activity levels also differ by gender.
Another author of the study, Amarendra Singh, noted that women typically have a higher breathing rate, which can increase pollutant intake in certain conditions. However, men usually have larger lung capacity and spend longer hours outdoors, resulting in a higher overall absorption of polluted air. Physical exertion, such as heavy labour or outdoor exercise, further increases breathing depth and allows toxic particles to reach deeper into the lungs.
The NSUT findings echo conclusions from international research that also points to men being more affected by air pollution. A large prospective study published on PubMed Central, which followed over 1 lakh men and women in the Los Angeles region for nearly two decades, found that long-term exposure to pollutants such as benzene, PM10 and ozone increased the risk of malignant brain cancer in men, but not in women. The associations were particularly strong for benzene exposure, with significantly higher hazard ratios observed among men. No such relationship was found in women.
Researchers behind that study suggested that biological factors may play a role, including differences in hormone-linked antioxidant pathways, tumour suppression mechanisms, and inflammation responses. Experimental evidence cited in the research showed that male subjects experienced greater oxidative stress and neuroinflammation when exposed to air pollutants compared to females. These mechanisms may partly explain why certain cancers linked to pollution have a higher incidence and poorer survival rates among men.
Taken together, the studies underline a growing concern, that air pollution is not a gender-neutral threat. Men, especially those spending long hours outdoors or engaged in physically demanding work, may be at higher risk of long-term damage to the lungs, heart and even the brain.
Doctors warn that symptoms such as persistent cough, chest tightness or shortness of breath should not be dismissed as “normal pollution trouble”. Early consultation with a pulmonologist is crucial, particularly for those living in highly polluted urban areas.
