Toxic air pollution is emerging as a silent trigger for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), raising alarms among medical experts in Delhi-NCR. Leading rheumatologists warned that exposure to PM2.5 and other pollutants could be fuelling a surge in cases of this debilitating autoimmune disease.
At the 40th annual conference of the Indian Rheumatology Association (IRACON 2025), held from October 9–12 at Yashobhoomi, Delhi, specialists cited mounting evidence linking air pollution to RA, a chronic disorder in which the immune system attacks the body's own tissues, especially the joints, causing pain, swelling, stiffness, and long-term disability.
" We are observing a rise in RA cases in patients living in polluted areas with no family history or genetic predisposition to autoimmune disease. Pollutants induce inflammatory reactions, exacerbating joint damage and promoting disease progression," said Dr Uma Kumar, Head of Rheumatology at AIIMS Delhi. "It is a public health emergency we can no longer ignore."
Dr Bimlesh Dhar Pandey from Fortis Hospital, Noida, emphasised that pollution triggers systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and autoantibody production. "Studies show strong associations between exposure to PM2.5, nitrogen oxides, and ozone with increased risk of RA and worsening symptoms, especially in genetically susceptible individuals. Living near busy roads, which means constant traffic-related pollution, has also been linked to higher RA risk," he said.
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International research supports these observations. A 2025 study in the European Medical Journal used a "two-sample Mendelian randomisation approach" to demonstrate causal links between common pollutants and immune system dysfunction, highlighting environmental factors as major drivers of autoimmune disorders, including RA.
Dr Neeraj Jain from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital cautioned, "We used to think of RA as mainly genetic, but pollution is rewriting that narrative. The environmental burden is tipping the scales, turning healthy individuals into patients. The fact that young people with no family history are developing RA should set the alarm bells ringing."
Urbanisation and reduced green spaces are compounding the problem, depriving residents of natural protective buffers. "This is not merely a medical issue, it is a societal crisis," said Dr Rohini Handa of Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi. Dr Pulin Gupta from Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital added that doctors are witnessing not only more RA cases but also more severe presentations.
Currently, RA affects around 1 per cent of India’s adult population, but experts warn that pollution may push these numbers higher. They stressed the need for urgent, multidisciplinary interventions, including stricter pollution controls, public awareness campaigns, early screening for at-risk populations, and lifestyle measures to reduce exposure.
Experts also called for expanding urban green cover, implementing cleaner transport solutions, and strengthening national policies that directly link air quality to health outcomes.
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