Air Pollution Crisis: India's Dark, Smoky Reality

India is one of the world's most polluted countries, with a range of factors contributing to its poor air quality. The country's rapid industrialization, unregulated emissions, construction, and deforestation have led to a significant increase in pollution levels, particularly in northern India. India's growing economy, urbanization, and industrialization have exacerbated the problem, with industrial and vehicular emissions, construction dust and debris, and the burning of biomass and fossil fuels being major contributors to air pollution. The country's inability to access timely and reliable government air quality data further hinders its ability to address this public health crisis effectively. India's air pollution has severe health impacts, reducing life expectancy and causing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, including lung cancer.

India's air pollution is shortening the average life expectancy of its citizens

India's air pollution is a major concern, with the country now in a far worse state than its neighbour China ever was. India's air pollution is shortening the average life expectancy of its citizens, with the latest data from 2016 showing that at least 140 million people in India are breathing air that is 10 times or more over the WHO safe limit.

A study published in The Lancet estimated that in 2017, air pollution killed 1.24 million Indians, half of whom were younger than 70, reducing the country's average life expectancy by 1.7 years. The situation is particularly dire in northern India, where the 10 most polluted cities in the world are located. The main contributors to India's air pollution include industrial and vehicular emissions, construction dust and debris, the dependence on thermal power for electricity, waste burning, and the use of wood and dung for cooking and heating in low-income and rural households.

The impact of air pollution on the health of Indians is significant. Exposure to particulate matter over long periods can lead to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, COPD, lung cancer, and heart attacks. The Global Burden of Disease Study for 2010 found that outdoor air pollution was the fifth-largest killer in India, with around 620,000 early deaths occurring from air pollution-related diseases that year. More recent estimates put the number of premature deaths due to air pollution at 2 million per year.

The Indian government has acknowledged the severity of the problem and has implemented initiatives to combat air pollution and improve the situation. In 2019, India launched its National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), aiming to reduce particulate pollution by 20-30% relative to 2017 levels by 2024. The government has also provided cooking gas cylinders to over 50 million poor households to reduce the use of highly polluting biomass cooking fuels. Additionally, India is expanding its renewable energy capacity, with increased investment making renewables the second-largest generator of electricity in the country.

Despite these efforts, India's air pollution problem persists, and it continues to impact the life expectancy of its citizens. According to the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI), India's air pollution shortens the average Indian's life expectancy by 5.3 years, with some areas faring much worse. For example, residents of Delhi, the country's capital and most populous city, could gain 11.9 years of life expectancy if particulate pollution levels were reduced to meet WHO guidelines. Similarly, residents of North 24 Parganas, the country's second most populous district, could gain 5.6 years of life expectancy. Overall, if India achieves and sustains a 25% reduction in particulate pollution, it would increase the national life expectancy average by 1.4 to 1.8 years.

Vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, and construction dust are major contributors

India is facing a serious air pollution crisis, with 140 million people breathing air that is 10 times or more over the WHO safe limit. The country's air quality is heavily impacted by vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, and construction dust.

Vehicular emissions are a significant contributor to India's poor air quality, particularly in urban areas. The transport sector accounts for a quarter of the country's total emissions, with road transport being the largest contributor. Passenger vehicles release about 45% of CO2 emissions from the transport sector. In addition, variations in traffic density, land-use patterns, road infrastructure, and poor traffic management further exacerbate emissions. The slow average trip speed on many Indian city roads, often less than 20 kilometres per hour, leads to vehicles emitting pollutants 4 to 8 times more than they would under less congested conditions. The use of adulterated fuel blends in some Indian taxis and auto-rickshaws also increases emissions of harmful pollutants. To address this, the Indian government has introduced Bharat stage (BS) emission standards to regulate air pollutants from internal combustion engines.

Industrial pollution is another major factor in India's air pollution crisis. It is responsible for about 51% of the country's air pollution. Industrial areas in India have high levels of SOx and NOx emissions, contributing to the overall deterioration of air quality. The country's reliance on thermal power for electricity and the operation of inefficient and highly polluting coal-fired power plants further aggravate the situation.

Construction dust is a significant source of particulate matter in the air, impacting the health of people in India's urban environments. Construction dust can contain harmful compounds, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metal(loid)s (MMs), which can lead to health issues, especially in young children. The lack of in-depth studies and systematic assessments of the health hazards associated with construction dust makes it even more challenging to address this issue effectively.

Other factors contributing to India's air pollution include crop burning, waste burning, and the use of biomass fuels for cooking and heating, particularly in rural areas. India's push towards renewable energy sources and the distribution of cooking gas cylinders to reduce the use of polluting biomass fuels are positive steps towards combating the country's air pollution crisis.

India's government has introduced initiatives to combat air pollution

India's government has introduced several initiatives to combat air pollution, recognising that it is a complex issue requiring collaboration between multiple stakeholders.

One notable initiative is the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in 2019 as part of India's "war against pollution". The NCAP initially aimed to reduce particulate pollution by 20-30% nationally by 2024, relative to 2017 levels. The programme targeted 102 cities that were not meeting India's national annual PM5 standard. In 2022, the Indian government revised the NCAP target, removing the national goal but increasing its ambition at the city level. The new goal aims for a 40% reduction relative to 2017 levels for 131 cities by 2025-2026.

Another initiative is the India Lighthouse initiative, which involves experts from India and around the world exchanging experiences and developing India-specific practices to better understand, manage, and control air pollution. The World Bank has also been aiding India in Air Quality Management through a phased strategy, providing support in areas such as knowledge enhancement, capacity building, stakeholder involvement, and expertise transfer.

To address the issue of construction dust, a major contributor to particulate air pollution, India has implemented Stage I of GRAP, which includes measures such as dust mitigation at construction sites, effective waste management, and regular road cleaning.

The government is also emphasising the expansion of renewable energy sources, such as solar power, and the promotion of electric vehicles. Additionally, they are supplying LPG cooking fuel to millions of households to reduce the use of highly polluting biomass cooking fuels.

Furthermore, India is taking steps towards standardising tools and data sets across the country to facilitate effective air pollution control strategies. The government is also strengthening vehicular and industrial emission standards and promoting public transportation.

The country is also exploring green infrastructure initiatives, such as vertical gardens, green roofs, and urban forests, to help absorb pollutants and improve air quality.

The inability to access air quality data is a challenge

India is one of the world's most polluted countries, with a range of factors contributing to its poor air quality. While the country has taken steps to address this issue, such as launching the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2019, it continues to struggle with implementing effective measures. One significant challenge is the inability to access accurate and timely air quality data.

The accessibility and availability of reliable air pollution data are crucial for addressing India's air quality issues. Currently, India falls behind in this aspect when compared to other nations with similar or smaller air quality monitoring networks. The government air quality data in India is not easily accessible to the public. Enhancing the accessibility of these datasets through improved APIs would empower Indian citizens with diverse skill sets to actively participate in tackling the country's public health crisis.

While air pollution data can be obtained from Central and State pollution control board websites, the process of accessing it is often cumbersome. The data is typically not provided in a format suitable for immediate analysis and may require significant preprocessing. This inaccessibility hinders the ability to effectively address the air quality issues impacting the country.

Moreover, the data provided by the Central and State pollution control boards might not always be up to date, making it less useful for addressing immediate concerns. The lack of timely data further exacerbates the challenges in mitigating air pollution and protecting public health. This delay in data availability can impede the implementation of prompt corrective actions and hinder the effectiveness of any short-term solutions.

To overcome this challenge, India needs to prioritize making its air quality data more readily accessible and available in a timely manner. By improving data accessibility and timely reporting, India can empower its citizens to actively engage in finding solutions and making informed decisions to improve air quality. Additionally, enhancing data accessibility can foster cross-sector collaboration and the development of comprehensive strategies to address this pressing issue.

Air pollution is a silent killer, causing over 2 million deaths annually

India is the world's second most polluted country, with 1.3 billion people living in areas where the annual average particulate pollution level exceeds World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) shortens an average Indian's life expectancy by 5.3 years, and up to 11.9 years in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, the most polluted city in the world. All of India's population lives in areas exceeding the WHO guideline, with 67.4% living in areas that exceed the country's own national air quality standard of 40 µg/m3.

The main contributors to India's particulate air pollution include industrial and vehicular emissions, construction dust and debris, dependence on thermal power for electricity, waste burning, and the use of wood and dung by low-income and rural households for cooking and heating. 51% of India's air pollution is caused by industrial pollution, 27% by vehicles, 17% by crop burning, and 5% by other sources. Air pollution contributes to the premature deaths of 2 million Indians every year.

The Modi government has provided cooking gas cylinders to over 50 million poor households to reduce the use of highly polluting biomass cooking fuels. However, high gas refill prices mean that biomass burning remains a significant pollution source. India's 246 coal-fired power plants, most of which are inefficient and highly polluting, account for 60% of the country's total electricity production, and coal is expected to dominate the energy mix for decades.

India's air pollution problem has severe health consequences, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, COPD, lung cancer, and heart attacks. Dr. Arvind Kumar, a chest surgeon at New Delhi's Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, has witnessed a shift in lung cancer patients from primarily smokers 30 years ago to now nearly half being non-smokers, with 40% women. Even in teenage lungs, Dr. Kumar observes black deposits that would have been unthinkable decades ago.

Addressing India's air pollution crisis is crucial to protecting the health and well-being of its citizens, particularly vulnerable groups such as women, children, and the elderly. It is essential to implement measures to reduce particulate pollution, improve air quality monitoring, and ensure access to clean air for all.

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