One in Three Young Adults in Delhi Show Early Signs of Lung Damage, CT Scan Data Reveals

Over 4,000 scans from Mahajan Imaging highlight growing structural abnormalities in lungs of Delhi youth, raising concerns over pollution, smoking, and urban lifestyle

New Delhi | June 24, 2025

Alarming internal data from Mahajan Imaging & Labs has revealed that nearly one in three young adults in Delhi who underwent chest CT scans in 2024 showed early signs of structural lung damage — conditions once typically seen in older populations.

The findings, drawn from over 4,000 CT scans, highlight the emergence of abnormalities such as bronchiectasis, emphysema, fibrosis, and bronchial wall thickening in individuals in their 20s and 30s.

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Dr. Harsh Mahajan, founder and chief radiologist at the centre, stated, “We are seeing a steady and significant number of CT chest scans — almost one in three — showing irreversible changes that are concerning for long-term health outcomes.”

The abnormalities observed are not linked to infections or tumours, according to the centre, which excluded such cases from its analysis. This suggests an even higher prevalence of undetected chronic lung damage in otherwise healthy young individuals.

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Pollution and Lifestyle Under Scrutiny

Medical experts believe that the findings reflect wider urban health risks including:

• Persistent air pollution in Delhi, where PM2.5 and AQI levels routinely exceed global safety norms.
• Increased tobacco and vaping usage, especially among youth.
• Exposure to indoor pollutants, such as cooking fumes and chemical-based cosmetics.
• Delayed respiratory screening and low awareness about lung health.

“In cities like Delhi, lungs are under constant stress due to poor air quality. Combine that with smoking or passive smoke exposure, and the damage accelerates,” Dr. Mahajan added.

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Not a Formal Study, But a Wake-Up Call

While this is not a peer-reviewed study, it reflects significant diagnostic trends observed in routine clinical settings. The data has emerged alongside ongoing global campaigns for anti-tobacco awareness, but Mahajan Imaging warns that the problem extends beyond tobacco alone.

Public health professionals are also drawing parallels with Brazil, where similar lung degeneration in youth has raised red flags, mostly tied to urban pollution and recurring respiratory infections.

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Call for Early Detection and Awareness

The data underlines the urgent need for respiratory screenings and early intervention, even in younger demographics traditionally not considered at-risk. Experts advocate for:

• Awareness drives on urban lung health
• Regular lung function tests in polluted cities
• Lifestyle interventions including reduced exposure to smoke and pollutants

With young lungs showing irreversible damage without symptoms, health professionals stress that prevention and early diagnosis are critical to reversing the trend.

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Tags:

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