Air Pollution and Reproductive Health of Women: A Case Study of Delhi National Capital Region

Abstract

Air pollution in Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) has emerged as a critical public health concern, with increasingly severe implications for women’s reproductive health. Exposure to pollutants such as particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), ozone (O₃), and carbon monoxide (CO) has been associated with adverse reproductive outcomes, including infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth, and low birth weight. Despite growing scientific evidence on these health risks, the gendered dimensions of air pollution remain insufficiently addressed within environmental governance frameworks in India. This paper examines the intersection of air pollution, women’s reproductive health, and environmental governance by analysing key policy interventions implemented over the past 15 years, including the 2010 National Green Tribunal Act, the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), the 2019 National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), and the 2021 Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). Adopting a documentary analysis approach, the study draws on policy documents, academic literature, and available health data to assess the extent to which these frameworks recognise gender-specific health vulnerabilities and incorporate women into decision-making processes. The analysis finds that while these policies have contributed to pollution control, they largely remain gender-blind, lacking statutory provisions for women’s representation and failing to adequately address differentiated health impacts across socio-economic groups. The paper argues for the integration of gender-sensitive approaches in environmental policymaking, emphasising targeted interventions and the institutionalisation of women’s participation to achieve more inclusive and effective environmental governance.