Greta Jimenez
India's pollution problem is a multifaceted issue that has led to severe health consequences and environmental degradation. With 21 out of the 30 most polluted cities in the world located in India in 2019, the country has gained the dubious distinction of having the highest number of highly polluted cities. The main sources of pollution vary across regions, but vehicle emissions, industrial activities, construction dust, crop residue burning, and the use of biomass fuels for cooking and heating are significant contributors. The unique geographical characteristics of certain regions, such as the Himalayas acting as a barrier, trap the pollutants and exacerbate the problem. The impact of this pollution is evident in the alarming number of deaths attributed to air pollution, with an estimated 1.6 million lives lost in 2019 alone. India's environment minister has downplayed the health effects, but international studies suggest otherwise, indicating wide-ranging impacts on cardiovascular health, foetal development, and cognitive function. The government has implemented initiatives like the National Clean Air Programme and provided cleaner cooking alternatives, but the effectiveness of these measures remains to be seen.
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What You'll Learn
- India's pollution is multifaceted, with vehicle, industrial, and construction emissions as the main contributors
- Burning of crop stubble and waste is a cheap practice that heavily pollutes the air
- India's geographical location and climate make it prone to trapped pollutants
- The use of fuelwood, dung, and biomass for cooking and heating is a major source of indoor air pollution
- India's pollution has severe health consequences, including elevated risk for heart attacks, strokes, and respiratory issues
India's pollution is multifaceted, with vehicle, industrial, and construction emissions as the main contributors
India's pollution problem is a complex and severe issue, with far-reaching consequences for the health and well-being of its citizens. The country has earned the dubious distinction of being the most polluted country in the world, surpassing its neighbour China, with 21 out of the 30 most polluted cities in the world located in India as of 2019. The pollution in India is multifaceted, with vehicle emissions, industrial emissions, and construction activities being the main contributors.
Vehicle emissions are a significant source of pollution in India, particularly in densely populated cities like Delhi, where vehicular traffic is high. The problem is exacerbated by the contamination of gasoline with kerosene due to gas pricing policies, as well as the lack of economic incentives for people to use cleaner fuels. This has led to increased air pollution and health risks for the population.
Industrial emissions also play a major role in India's pollution crisis. Over 50% of the country's air pollution is attributed to industrial sources, including power generation and small-scale industries. The burning of fossil fuels, particularly in the country's 246 coal-fired power plants, has contributed to India's ranking as the world's third-largest producer of greenhouse gases.
Construction activities further add to the pollution levels in India. The dust and debris generated during construction projects, especially in rapidly growing cities, contribute to the particulate matter in the air. This is particularly evident in Delhi, where the population and number of factories are high, and there is constant construction activity.
Other contributors to India's pollution include thermal power plants, waste burning, and the use of biomass and dung for cooking and heating by low-income and rural households. The burning of crop residue in agriculture fields is also a major source of pollution during the autumn and spring months, as it is a cheaper alternative to mechanical tilling. The geographical constraints of northern India, where the Himalayas form a barrier, further trap the pollution and prevent its dispersal.
The health consequences of India's pollution are dire, with air pollution contributing to the premature deaths of approximately 2 million Indians every year. Studies have shown that Indians have 30% weaker lung function than Europeans, and the country has an elevated risk of heart attacks, strokes, asthma, reduced foetal growth, stunted lung development in children, and cognitive impairment. Despite government initiatives to address the issue, such as the National Clean Air Programme, the pollution crisis persists, impacting the lives and well-being of millions.
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Burning of crop stubble and waste is a cheap practice that heavily pollutes the air
India has been dubbed the most polluted country in the world, with the greatest number of highly polluted cities. In 2019, 21 out of the 30 most polluted cities globally were in India. The country's pollution problem is multifaceted, with industrial and vehicular emissions, thermal power plants, construction, and biomass cooking fuels all contributing to poor air quality. However, one significant factor is the burning of crop stubble and agricultural waste.
The practice of burning crop residues is prevalent in states like Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, where farmers burn an estimated 35 million tons of crop waste every year. This practice is a low-cost method for farmers to dispose of straw and prepare fields for the next crop, especially during the turnaround between the summer and winter crops. However, it releases massive amounts of pollutants into the atmosphere, including fine particulate matter (PM2.5), black carbon, and greenhouse gases. The smoke from these fires forms a toxic cloud that hangs over cities like Delhi, exacerbating the already poor air quality.
The Indian government has faced criticism for not acting swiftly enough to address this health emergency. While they have implemented measures such as fines and incentives to discourage crop burning, enforcement has been lacking. The government has also promoted sustainable alternatives, such as converting crop residue into energy or using it for biofuel and particle board production. However, some farmers struggle with the financial burden of adopting these new practices and technologies.
The consequences of crop stubble burning are severe. The emissions from crop burning can be up to 17 times the annual particulate pollution in a given year. This contributes to India's ranking as the world's third-largest producer of greenhouse gases. Additionally, the health impacts are significant, with a wide array of disorders associated with the release of pollutants from stubble burning. These emissions have been linked to lung cancer, respiratory infections, and adverse effects on individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.
Overall, the burning of crop stubble and waste is a cheap and convenient practice for farmers, but it comes at a high cost to the environment and public health. It is imperative that the Indian government, farmers, and other stakeholders work together to implement sustainable alternatives and reduce the pollution caused by this practice.
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India's geographical location and climate make it prone to trapped pollutants
India's air pollution is a serious environmental issue, with 21 of the 30 most polluted cities in the world in 2019. The country's diverse geography, dense population, and intricate socioeconomic fabric contribute to its pollution problem. India's geographical location and climate play a significant role in trapping pollutants, particularly in certain areas such as Delhi.
Delhi, for instance, is surrounded by mountains and nineteen other districts. During the summer, the hot air helps to disperse pollutants, but in the colder months, the air settles down, trapping the pollutants with no escape route. This phenomenon, often likened to a lid being placed over the city, exacerbates the pollution problem in Delhi.
The climatic conditions in northern India, including Delhi, contribute to the trapping of pollutants. During autumn and winter, farmers in the states of Punjab and Haryana burn rice stubble after their harvests, a cheap method of disposal. This practice, along with the burning of other agricultural waste and garbage, releases large amounts of smoke, smog, and particulate matter into the air. The geographical boundaries of the region, including the mountains, then trap these pollutants, leading to extremely high levels of air pollution.
Additionally, India's growing economy and industrialization contribute to the problem. Energy-related fuel combustion is a significant source of three major air pollutants: NOX, SO2, and PM2.5. India's CO2 emissions have been increasing, with a 55% rise in the last decade, and are expected to further increase by 50% by 2040. The country's industrialization and urbanization have led to a rise in construction, which generates dust and debris, further adding to the particulate matter in the air.
The combination of geographical constraints, climatic conditions, and human activities has made India particularly prone to trapped pollutants, resulting in severe health implications for its citizens.
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The use of fuelwood, dung, and biomass for cooking and heating is a major source of indoor air pollution
India has earned the dubious distinction of being the most polluted country in the world. Of the 30 most polluted cities globally, 21 were in India in 2019. According to a Lancet study, nearly 1.67 million deaths and an estimated loss of US$28.8 billion worth of output were the costs of India's worsening air pollution in 2019. A more recent study published in The Lancet estimated that in 2017, air pollution killed 1.24 million Indians, with half of them being younger than 70. This has lowered the country's average life expectancy by 1.7 years.
One of the major sources of indoor air pollution in India is the use of fuelwood, dung, and biomass for cooking and heating. India is the world's largest consumer of fuelwood, agricultural waste, and biomass for energy purposes. India used 148.7 million tonnes of coal replacement worth of fuel wood and biomass annually for domestic energy use. In rural India, traditional fuel (fuelwood, crop residue, and dung cake) dominates domestic energy use and accounts for about 90% of the total. In urban areas, traditional fuel constitutes about 24% of the total energy use. The use of fuelwood and biomass cakes is the primary reason for the near-permanent haze and smoke observed above rural and urban India. These are burnt in cookstoves known as chulha, which are present in over 100 million Indian households and are used two to three times a day. Some reports, including one by the World Health Organization, claim that 300,000 to 400,000 people die of indoor air pollution and carbon monoxide poisoning in India due to biomass burning and the use of chulhas.
The carbon-containing gases released from biomass fuels are much more reactive than cleaner fuels such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The combustion of biomass fuels is linked to increased respiratory infections, including pneumonia, tuberculosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), low birth weight, cataracts, cardiovascular events, and all-cause mortality in both adults and children. Studies from India have found a causal link between exposure to biomass smoke and the development of tuberculosis. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has termed biomass smoke a 'probable carcinogen'.
While India has introduced clean fuel standards and encouraged the use of LPG as domestic fuel instead of coal or fuelwood, the burning of fuelwood and biomass continues due to the lack of reliable access to electricity or clean-burning fuels in many parts of the country. Additionally, the use of traditional fuels is deeply entrenched in rural areas, and behavioral change takes time.
The Indian government has taken some steps to address the issue, such as providing cooking gas cylinders to over 50 million poor households to reduce biomass burning. However, high gas refill prices have led to biomass burning remaining a significant source of pollution. There is a need for further policy interventions and behavioral change to reduce indoor air pollution from the use of fuelwood, dung, and biomass for cooking and heating in India.
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India's pollution has severe health consequences, including elevated risk for heart attacks, strokes, and respiratory issues
India's pollution problem has dire health consequences for its citizens. In 2019, about 1.67 million people died in India due to air pollution, which caused $36.8 billion in economic losses. A more recent study found that air pollution claimed the lives of 21 lakh Indians in 2021 alone.
The health consequences of India's pollution include an elevated risk of heart attacks, strokes, and respiratory issues. Research has shown that air pollution increases the risk of respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological complications. Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, gets deposited in various organs over time, contributing to these health issues. PM2.5 concentration in India is currently 10.1 times the World Health Organization's annual guideline value. This has led to a high prevalence of asthma, lung diseases, COPD, bronchial infections, and lung cancer in the country.
Air pollution is also linked to a higher risk of developing sudden sensorineural hearing loss. A study published in the Lung India journal found that prolonged exposure to high levels of outdoor air pollution could increase BMI among urban adolescents. The study found a higher prevalence of asthma and overweight students in Delhi compared to relatively cleaner cities. Air pollutants can directly lead to asthma by damaging the lungs or acting as obesogens that affect normal bodily processes and lead to obesity, which in turn causes asthma.
India's pollution problem is caused by a variety of factors, including industry, vehicles, crop burning, domestic cooking, and construction. In rural areas, pollution is largely attributed to the burning of organic material for fuel, while in urban areas, it is primarily caused by industry and vehicles. India's capital city, New Delhi, is often blanketed by thick pollution, leading to the closure of schools and the suspension of outdoor activities for older children. The situation is exacerbated by the geographic and climatic constraints in the north, where the air settles down during the colder months, trapping pollutants.
To protect themselves from the harmful effects of air pollution, Indians are advised to wear masks, perform nasal washes, improve hydration, and consume antioxidants found in fresh fruits and green vegetables.
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Frequently asked questions
India has been named the most polluted country in the world, with 21 out of the 30 most polluted cities in 2019. The country is the third-largest producer of greenhouse gases, after China and the US.
The main causes of India's pollution are industrial and vehicular emissions, construction dust and debris, thermal power plants, waste burning, and the use of wood and dung for cooking and heating.
Air pollution contributes to the premature deaths of 2 million Indians every year. It is the largest cause of death after heart disease. Studies have also shown that air pollution has a wide-ranging impact, including an elevated risk for heart attacks and strokes, increased risk of asthma, reduced foetal growth, stunted development of children’s lungs, and cognitive impairment.
