Every year on 25 September, the world pauses to mark World Lung Day, an initiative of the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) to raise awareness about lung health and the urgent need to reduce the burden of respiratory diseases on urban population especially.
This year, FIRS highlights the theme “Healthy Lungs, Healthy Life”, drawing attention to practical steps everyone can take to protect their respiratory system. The lung is uniquely vulnerable to damage and infection from environmental factors because of its constant exposure to chemicals, particles, and infectious organisms in the air.
MedBound Times connected with Dr. Sanket Agrawal, Interventional Pulmonologist and Intensivist at Getwell Hospital and Research Institute, Nagpur, India, for his reflections on this day.
“Lung health is directly related to air pollution and smoke levels,” Dr. Agrawal emphasized. “Globally, at least 200 crore people are exposed to toxic smoke of biomass fuel, usually burned in indoor stoves or poorly ventilated fireplaces, 100 crore people to polluted outdoor air, and 100 crore to tobacco smoke.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 99% of the global population breathes air that exceeds recommended pollution limits.¹ Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) penetrates deep into the lungs, triggering inflammation, asthma exacerbations, and increased risk of lung cancer.
In India, the burden is particularly heavy. Dr. Agrawal notes that 20–30% of people live with allergies, ranging from dust and pollen sensitivity to food-related triggers. Asthma affects 3–5% of the population, with children in cities especially vulnerable due to rising pollution and indoor lifestyle patterns.
Unfortunately, he adds, many dismiss early symptoms.
“A lingering cough, breathlessness during a brisk walk, wheezing at night, or repeated sneezing spells are often brushed aside as minor irritations. But these are the body’s early alarm bells.”
For many, indoor air pollution is an invisible enemy, caused by cooking fumes, damp walls, mosquito coils, or incense sticks. “This silent pollution can be even ten times more harmful than outdoor smog,” Dr. Agrawal warns.
Smoking remains the single greatest preventable cause of lung disease. It is directly linked to COPD, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease, accounting for more than 8 million deaths each year.⁴
While global smoking rates are slowly declining, e-cigarettes and vaping are on the rise. Dr. Agrawal cautions:
“You can consider e-cigarettes almost equal to conventional smoking. The Government of India banned e-cigarettes because they were found to have the same association with lung cancer as traditional cigarettes.”
Respiratory infections remain a heavy burden worldwide. Tuberculosis (TB) still causes 1.3 million deaths annually, making it the second leading infectious killer after COVID-19.⁶
Meanwhile, seasonal influenza and post-COVID complications continue to strain health systems. In many low-resource settings, pneumonia remains the leading cause of death among young children. Vaccination campaigns and access to antibiotics remain vital tools.
Dr. Agrawal stresses the role of early screening, especially with spirometry.
“Spirometry can detect lung function abnormalities even before the patient experiences symptoms—sometimes 10 to 15 years ahead. This allows us to intervene before irreversible damage sets in.”
Climate change amplifies existing threats. Rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns increase ground-level ozone and worsen pollen seasons, leading to more asthma flare-ups. Wildfires, increasingly frequent and severe, release massive quantities of smoke that travel across continents, harming even those far from the flames.
The intersection of climate and lung health highlights an uncomfortable truth: protecting lungs is not just a medical challenge but an environmental and policy one.
Despite the challenges, simple measures can go a long way. Dr. Agrawal offers a practical six-point plan:
Breathe Clean Air – Avoid polluted areas and support clean-air policies.
Be Smoke-Free – Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke.
Take the Active Option – Regular exercise supports lung function.
Vaccinate – Protect against flu, pneumonia, and shingles.
Fight Climate Change – Support actions to reduce greenhouse gases.
Eat Well – A balanced diet supports immunity and respiratory health.
He also highlights the connection between allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and asthma, often described as the “one airway, one disease” concept.
"Allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma are part of a one-airway concept because everything starts from the nose and extends to the airway. Therefore, 80% of patients with asthma are found to have an association with allergic rhinitis, with an almost similar mechanism."
Lung health is not solely an individual matter—it reflects the collective choices of societies. Urban planning, climate policies, tobacco regulation, and healthcare investments all shape the quality of the air we breathe.
World Lung Day 2025 reminds us that lung diseases are largely preventable, yet disproportionately affect the poor and vulnerable. Addressing these inequalities requires coordinated global action.
Breathing is effortless, but healthy lungs are not guaranteed. From polluted cities to rural households, from smokers to children battling pneumonia, the challenges are diverse but interconnected.
On World Lung Day 2025, the message is simple yet profound: every breath counts. Protecting lungs means safeguarding our collective future—because without healthy lungs, there is no healthy life.
World Health Organization. “Air Pollution.” WHO, 2023. https://www.who.int/health-topics/air-pollution.
Gauderman, W. J., et al. “Association between Air Pollution and Lung Function Growth in Southern California Children.” American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 162, no. 4 (2000): 1383–1390. https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm.162.4.9909096.
Health Effects Institute. State of Global Air 2020. Boston: HEI, 2020.
World Health Organization. “Tobacco.” WHO, 2024. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tobacco.
Gotts, Jeffrey E., et al. “What Are the Respiratory Effects of E-Cigarettes?” BMJ 366 (2019): l5275. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l5275.
World Health Organization. Global Tuberculosis Report 2023. Geneva: WHO, 2023.
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