Air Pollution In India: A Critical Analysis

India's air pollution problem is a pressing issue, with the country ranking as the world's third-largest producer of greenhouse gases. In 2019, 21 of the 30 most polluted cities in the world were in India, and over 2 million Indians lose their lives each year due to air pollution. The main sources of this pollution are industrial and vehicular emissions, construction, waste burning, and the burning of biomass for cooking and heating in rural areas. Poor air quality has severe health impacts, with Indians experiencing 30% weaker lung function than Europeans and air pollution being the leading cause of death for over 100,000 infants in their first month of life. While initiatives like the National Clean Air Programme aim to reduce pollution, the current air quality in India remains a concern, with moderate to poor AQI levels.

India's top air pollution sources

India's air quality is a significant concern, with the country ranking as the world's third-largest producer of greenhouse gases. The nation's pollution sources are diverse, but several key factors stand out as the most significant contributors.

Industrial and Vehicular Emissions:

Over half of India's air pollution (51%) comes from industrial sources, with vehicles contributing an additional 27%. This includes emissions from factories, power plants, and the growing number of vehicles on the road due to urbanization. The problem is exacerbated in urban areas, where higher temperatures and lower wind speeds associated with urbanization further degrade air quality.

Crop and Biomass Burning:

Crop residue burning is a common practice in Indian agriculture, particularly during autumn and spring, as a cheaper alternative to mechanical tilling. This practice contributes significantly to smoke, smog, and particulate pollution. Additionally, in rural areas, biomass burning for cooking and heating using traditional fuels like fuelwood, crop residue, and dung cakes is prevalent, producing smoke and pollutants.

Construction and Waste Burning:

Construction dust and debris, as well as waste burning, contribute to India's air pollution. The country's rapid urbanization has led to increased construction activity, releasing particulate matter and other pollutants into the air. Waste disposal methods, such as landfill, waste dumping, and open burning of garbage, further exacerbate the problem.

Thermal Power Dependence:

India's reliance on thermal power for electricity generation contributes to air pollution. The burning of fossil fuels in power plants releases emissions, including SOx and NOx, which negatively impact air quality.

Indoor Air Pollution:

Indoor air pollution from cooking and heating practices, particularly in rural areas, is a significant issue. The use of solid fuels like charcoal, wood, and dried dung cakes in inefficient stoves or chulhas produces high levels of smoke and pollutants, impacting the health of those residing in the household.

Air pollution's health impact

India's air pollution levels are among the highest in the world, and this poses a significant threat to the health and economy of the country. The air pollution challenge in India is multi-sectoral and multi-jurisdictional, requiring a coordinated approach across local and national boundaries.

The main sources of air pollution in India are industry, vehicles, crop burning, and domestic cooking. The burning of fuel wood and biomass is the primary reason for the near-permanent haze and smoke observed above rural and urban India. These are burnt in cookstoves, known as chulhas, and are present in over 100 million households, used two to three times a day. The smoke produced by these stoves contains five times more pollutants than coal. Solid fuel biomass, including charcoal, wood, and dried dung cakes, is also used for heating homes. This is a major cause of indoor air pollution, which is linked to more than 100,000 infant deaths during the first month of life.

Outdoor air pollution is also a serious issue, with Indians exposed to an average of 83.2 μg/m³ of PM2.5 pollutants, compared to a much lower figure of 8 μg/m³ in cleaner countries. PM2.5 pollutants are the most harmful, and exposure to these microscopic particles can cause deadly illnesses such as lung cancer, stroke, heart disease, and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases like asthma, bronchitis, COPD, and heart attacks. The small size of PM2.5 particulates means they can travel deep into the lung tissue and even enter the heart.

The health impacts of air pollution in India are significant, with over a million Indians dying prematurely each year due to air pollution, according to the Health Effects Institute. Air pollution is believed to be a key factor in the increasing rates of Alzheimer's disease in India. It is also the largest environmental health threat globally, with 4.13 to 5.39 million people dying from exposure to PM2.5 pollutants in 2017. In India, the economic losses due to premature deaths and morbidity caused by air pollution were US$28.8 billion and $8 billion, respectively, in 2019.

Real-time air quality monitoring

India's Air Quality Index (AQI) provides real-time air pollution data for its cities. The AQI includes detailed parameters such as PM2.5 and PM10 particulate matter, temperature, and pollution maps. This data is essential for individuals to understand the air quality around them and take necessary precautions, especially for sensitive groups.

Additionally, companies like Aeroqual design and deliver integrated, real-time air quality monitoring systems. Their monitors can simultaneously measure particulate matter and gaseous pollutants, providing reliable and actionable data. This data helps communities and organizations make informed decisions to improve air quality and reduce health risks associated with air pollution.

Overall, real-time air quality monitoring in India provides valuable data and insights that help individuals, communities, and organizations understand and address the impacts of air pollution, ultimately contributing to sustainable development and improved public health.

Air pollution solutions

India's air pollution problem is a pressing issue, with over 2 million Indians losing their lives due to air pollution-related causes. The country's air quality has deteriorated significantly over the past two decades, and it is now the second-largest risk factor contributing to the nation's disease burden. The main sources of pollution are industry, vehicles, crop burning, and domestic cooking.

To address this issue, India has implemented various solutions, including the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which calls for city-level Clean Air Plans and aims to reduce key air pollutants. While this initiative has not been legally enforced, the government has increased funding for pollution control and allocated money specifically for city-based plans. Additionally, India is embracing a solar-energy revolution, with projects like the Rewa Solar Project helping to reduce Delhi Metro's dependence on coal.

Other solutions include:

• Encouraging the use of public transportation, carpooling, and reducing personal vehicle usage to decrease emissions and fuel consumption.
• Reducing the use of solid fuel biomass (such as charcoal, wood, and dried dung cakes) for cooking and heating, as these release harmful pollutants. Promoting access to electricity or cleaner fuel alternatives in remote areas can help reduce the use of solid fuels.
• Implementing air quality monitoring systems and fresh air solutions in schools, workplaces, and cities to improve air quality and protect public health.
• Adopting recycling and reusing practices to reduce pollution emissions and conserve resources.
• Planting trees, which provide numerous environmental benefits, including the absorption and release of oxygen.
• Reducing the use of chemicals and strongly scented products, such as paints and perfumes, opting for low-chemical and organic alternatives instead.

Government initiatives to reduce air pollution

India has been taking proactive steps to combat its hazardous levels of air pollution, which have caused a significant public health crisis. The country is exposed to extremely high levels of PM2.5, the most dangerous type of air pollutant, which has severe health and economic impacts.

One of India's initiatives to address air quality issues is the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which tackles air pollution in 132 cities that fail to meet air quality standards. This programme encourages collaboration across local and national jurisdictions and promotes city-specific air quality management plans. Many cities have also activated the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in response to poor air quality. Stage I of GRAP includes measures such as dust mitigation at construction sites, effective waste management, and regular road cleaning, which are particularly important during the winter months when pollution levels surge due to agricultural burning, vehicle emissions, and industrial output.

Another noteworthy initiative is the use of bio-decomposers to address stubble burning, a significant contributor to winter pollution. In addition, India has installed "smog towers", 20-metre-tall air purifiers, and deployed anti-smog guns that spray water droplets to reduce air pollution.

The World Bank has also been aiding India in its efforts to improve air quality through a phased strategy under its Country Partnership Framework. This strategy focuses on enhancing knowledge, building capacity, involving stakeholders, transferring expertise in airshed management tools, facilitating analysis for policy adjustments, and mobilizing finance for more effective government programs.

Furthermore, India is also working on its first State Air Quality Action Plans and the Regional Airshed Action Plan for the Indo Gangetic Plains (IGP), which spans seven union territories and states. These plans will prioritize measures to reduce air pollution at the lowest cost based on scientific evidence. India is also collaborating with international experts through the India Lighthouse initiative to develop India-specific practices to better understand, manage, and control air pollution.

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