On weekends in November, hundreds of Delhi residents protested at India Gate holding signs like “I miss breathing” to highlight the city’s severe air pollution. The region is stuck in the 'severe' or 'very poor' air quality levels, with harmful PM2.5 and PM10 particles high. New research adds inhalable microplastics as another hidden threat. Scientists found tiny plastic particles smaller than 10 micrometres in the air of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai. Led by Professor Gopala Krishna Darbha of IISER Kolkata, the study measured 8.8 micrograms per cubic meter on average. Dr. Darbha said, “This means the average city resident is breathing in about 132 micrograms every single day.” These tiny plastics can slip past our lung's defenses and carry dangerous substances like lead, cadmium, and hormone-disrupting chemicals. The study found lead pollution highest in Kolkata and then Delhi. Microplastics also carry harmful microbes like Aspergillus fumigatus, which may spread difficult-to-treat infections. Health risks tied to these particles include cancer, hormone disorders, breast problems, and respiratory diseases. Winter evenings showed a 74% increase in microplastic particles, with Delhi and Kolkata suffering much higher levels than Mumbai and Chennai. Dr. Darbha noted that coastal cities Mumbai and Chennai have lower pollution due to weather and population factors. The study identified 11 types of plastics in the air mostly from overlooked sources like packaging, tire wear, household waste, and textiles. Dr. Darbha warned workers exposed to traffic pollution face severe lung risks and called for policy changes like banning single-use plastics. He said cotton clothes are better than synthetics, which shed plastic microfibers. Improper waste disposal and burning worsen the problem by releasing more toxic gases and tiny particles that hitch a ride on inhalable microplastics into our lungs. Dr. Darbha said the study is a starting point for understanding this hidden pollution and urged government action to reduce plastic use and improve waste management. The threat of microplastic air pollution now joins traditional toxins as a major public health challenge in India.