India, Oct. 18 -- As Diwali approaches, Delhi's air quality takes a sharp dive, with smoke, dust, and pollutants filling the atmosphere. While the immediate effects on lungs are well-known, experts warn that the impact of this toxic air goes far beyond respiratory issues.

Rising evidence shows that polluted air is quietly weakening immunity and triggering joint pain and arthritis - even among young people who would otherwise be considered low-risk.

Dr Shagun Agarwal, an orthopaedic surgeon specialising in robotic joint replacement, is starting a conversation about the wider impact of air pollution - beyond the lungs - highlighting a worrying rise in arthritis cases among young people.

In an Instagram video posted on October 17, the sur...