Recently, the Indus-Gangetic Plain, comprising Delhi, Bihar, Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, has been severely affected by acute air pollution.
For example, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi dropped to around 500, highlighting the serious challenge of air pollution in the IGP, which is home to 9% of the global population and 40% of India’s population.
Air pollution in India:
The most polluted cities:
India has the highest number of 39 cities in the top 100 most polluted cities globally, while China has 30 cities in the list.
Regional comparison:
Other South Asian countries contribute significantly to global pollution, with 7 cities from Pakistan, 5 from Bangladesh and 2 from Nepal featuring in the top 100.
Out of the top 100 polluted cities, 53 are in the Indian subcontinent.
Decrease in life expectancy:
According to a 2019 study by the Energy Policy Institute (EPIC) of the University of Chicago, the average life expectancy of IGP residents is seven years lower than other parts of the country due to severe air pollution.
AQI:
AQI is a numerical scale used to measure and communicate air quality based on the concentration of major pollutants.
It was established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
There are six categories of AQI:
Good, Satisfactory, moderately polluted, Poor, Very Poor and Severe.
AQI ranges from 0 to 500, values higher than this indicates poor air quality and greater health risk.
Effects of poor air quality:
Short-term effects:
Symptoms such as headache, nasal congestion and skin irritation are common when exposed to poor air quality.
High levels of pollution can cause or worsen diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis and pneumonia.
Long-term health risks:
Chronic respiratory disease: Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and even lung cancer.
Supports cardiovascular health: Such as heart attack, stroke, heart failure and high blood pressure.
Cognitive decline: Cognitive decline, dementia and stroke especially in older adults.
On the skin: Eczema and dermatitis.
Damage to internal organs: Damage to internal organs, including kidneys and liver.
Impact on vulnerable groups:
Pregnant women:
Disrupt placenta development, harm fetal development and cause long-term health problems in children.
Children:
Impairs neurological development, thereby affecting cognitive and physical development.
Causes of air pollution:
Temperature inversion:
It occurs in November and December when cold air combines with pollutants to confine them near the ground. It increases air pollution by preventing the spread of harmful particles.
Traffic congestion:
Traffic congestion is a major cause of air pollution, Mumbai has the highest vehicle density per km, followed by Kolkata, Pune and Delhi.
In densely populated urban areas, heavy traffic not only increases air pollution, but also hinders efforts to improve air quality through cleaner technologies and more efficient urban planning.
For example, in cities like Delhi, despite electric buses and stricter emission norms, traffic congestion is undermining the improvement in air quality.
Stubble burning and desert dust:
Massive burning of crop residue leads to emission of smoke, carbon dioxide and particulate matter, which significantly deteriorates air quality.
Additionally, winds from the Thar Desert bring fine particles of dust to the region, further increasing air pollution.
Fireworks:
The burning of fireworks releases toxic chemicals, heavy metals and fine particles into the air, which causes a short-term increase in air pollution and a decline in air quality.
Burning of biomass:
In rural areas, reliance on traditional methods of cooking and heating, such as wood, biomass fuel or coal, contributes to air pollution both indoors and outdoors.
Solution:
Waste to Energy Technologies:
Investing in waste-to-energy plants that convert non-recyclable waste into energy through processes such as incineration or anaerobic digestion.
Incineration is a thermal process in which waste is reduced in volume by burning at high temperature, while anaerobic digestion is a biological process in which microorganisms decompose organic waste without oxygen.
Covering of construction sites:
Measures such as covering the construction area vertically, covering raw materials, sprinkling water to prevent sand and dust from spreading and using windbreakers and covering construction materials can significantly improve air quality.
De-Soxing and De-NOxing Systems:
To limit pollutants such as sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), plants and refineries are required to install De-SOxing and De-NOxing systems that remove SO2 and NOx respectively.
Alternative biomass use:
Instead of burning, the residue can be used for energy production, biogas production and cattle feeding.
The shift towards electrification:
Improving public transport as well as promoting electric, hybrid and BS-VI vehicles can significantly reduce vehicular emissions.
Vapour recovery systems:
Petrol vapours containing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) produce smog and pose health hazards during storage, unloading and refuelling.
Vapor recovery systems allow VOCs to reduce emissions.
