Living closer to pollution sources? Your joints could be at risk, say experts

Residents living near Delhi’s busy roads and industrial zones may be paying a price that goes far beyond coughing fits and sore throats. Leading rheumatologists now warn that toxic air could be silently damaging their joints.

On the opening day of the 40th Annual Conference of the Indian Rheumatology Association (IRACON 2025), at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi on Thursday, experts revealed alarming evidence linking Delhi’s air pollution—especially fine particulate matter (PM2.5)—to a spike in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cases across the NCR.

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“We are observing a rise in RA among patients living in polluted areas who have no family history or genetic predisposition,” said Dr Uma Kumar, Head of Rheumatology at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi. “Pollutants induce inflammatory reactions, exacerbating joint damage and promoting disease progression. This is a public health emergency we can no longer ignore.”

RA, a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes painful swelling and stiffness in the joints, has traditionally been linked to genetics. But new evidence points to environmental triggers. Dr Bimlesh Dhar Pandey of Fortis Hospital explained, “Air pollutants like PM2.5, nitrogen oxides, and ozone can cause inflammation, oxidative stress, and autoantibody production. Living near busy roads—meaning constant traffic-related pollution—has been linked to higher RA risk.”

A 2025 European Medical Journal study cited by experts found strong genetic evidence connecting long-term pollution exposure to autoimmune diseases. “Pollution is rewriting the narrative,” said Dr Neeraj Jain, Vice Chairman, Department of Rheumatology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. “Healthy young individuals with no family history are developing RA.”

As the capital enters another smog-filled season, rheumatologists are calling for urgent action—cleaner transport, stricter pollution control, and more green spaces. “Unless pollution levels are curbed, we are staring at a generation crippled by preventable autoimmune diseases,” warned Dr Rohini Handa, Senior Consultant, Rheumatology, at Apollo Hospital in New Delhi.

Delhi’s toxic air, they say, is no longer just choking lungs—it’s attacking joints too.