Delhi Air Pollution: How Outdoor And Indoor Air Pollution Affect Male And Female Reproductive Health

Air pollution adversely impacts reproductive health. Exposure to air pollutants affects reproductive functions, and results in adverse impacts on pregnancy outcomes, fertility, and foetal health.

According to a 2010 study published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, exposure to ambient levels of air pollutants are linked with low birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation, prematurity, neonatal death, and decreased fertility, both in males and females. 

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Delhi Air Pollution: Delhi has been grappling with severe air pollution since early November this year. The Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi NCR as of 6:00 pm IST on November 9, 2023 was 771. This air pollution level is considered hazardous. This is the AQI determined based on PM10 levels. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), PM10 refers to inhalable particles, with diameters 10 micrometres or smaller.  The AQI of PM2.5 was 541. PM2.5 refers to fine, inhalable