In a statement that has sparked significant debate among health experts and environmentalists, the Government of India has informed Parliament that there is currently no conclusive or “solid” evidence
to directly link higher Air Quality Index (AQI) levels to the prevalence of lung diseases. Responding to queries regarding the escalating pollution crisis in the Indo-Gangetic plains, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare maintained that while air pollution is a known “aggravating factor” for respiratory issues, it cannot be identified as the sole or primary cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, or lung cancer.
The government’s position rests on the complexity of medical causality, arguing that lung diseases are multifactorial in nature. Officials pointed out that various elements, including genetics, socio-economic status, nutritional levels, smoking habits, and occupational exposure to dust or chemicals, play a combined role in determining an individual’s respiratory health. According to the ministry, the lack of long-term, large-scale longitudinal studies in the specific Indian context makes it difficult to establish a definitive, one-to-one causal relationship between a specific AQI number and a clinical diagnosis of lung disease.
This assertion stands in sharp contrast to several international and domestic reports. For instance, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Burden of Disease study have consistently ranked air pollution as one of the leading causes of premature mortality in India, particularly due to the inhalation of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Medical bodies, including the Lung Care Foundation of India, have frequently highlighted that the “severe” AQI levels seen in Delhi and surrounding states are equivalent to smoking several cigarettes a day, leading to irreversible lung damage in children and the elderly.
Despite the perceived cautiousness of its parliamentary response, the government maintained that it is taking proactive steps to mitigate the impact of poor air quality. It highlighted the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and the strengthening of public health infrastructure under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission. By framing the issue as one of “aggravation” rather than direct “causality,” the government appears to be calling for more nuanced scientific research while simultaneously managing the legal and administrative implications of a direct link. This development has now triggered a call from the medical community for more transparent, India-specific health data to bridge the gap between environmental monitoring and public health policy.
