3 Things Air pollution’s toll on infants, a policy rollback, and terror module busted
Nov 14, 2025
Rinku Ghosh, a health reporter for The Indian Express, exposes the alarming effects of air pollution on newborns and pregnant women. She discusses how pollutants can lead to severe health issues like low birth weight and lung complications in infants. Parul Kulshresthe, also from The Indian Express, sheds light on Rajasthan's controversial rollback of its two-child rule and the fierce reaction from women's rights groups concerned about potential reproductive coercion. The conversation also delves into a recently uncovered grenade attack module linked to Pakistan.
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Air Pollution Compromises Newborn Health
- Newborns exposed to polluted air are staying in neonatal units much longer due to compromised lung function.
- Studies link maternal pollution exposure to low birth weight, stillbirths, and reduced lung capacity in infants.
Placenta Breach Harms Fetal Development
- Pollutants can cross the placenta, inflaming it and reducing nutrient and oxygen flow to the fetus.
- This exposure can impair organ development and is linked to congenital heart defects and neural tube defects.
Long-Term Neuroendocrine Risks
- Air pollution exposure in pregnancy may increase risk of autism spectrum disorders and hormonal disruption via microplastics.
- Endocrine disruptors from microplastics can alter fetal hormone function with lasting effects.