Air pollution causes 7% deaths in 10 cities: Lancet
report
Why in News:
According to a recent study published in The Lancet, air pollution is
responsible for nearly 7% of
deaths in ten major Indian cities, with over 33,000
deaths occurring each year due to this environmental hazard.
UPSC Syllabus:
Prelims:
Environment
Mains:
GS-II, III: Government Policies and Interventions, Environment and Pollution
Highlights:
• The report states that
over 33,000 deaths occur on an average
each year due to air pollution in ten cities namely Ahmedabad, Bengaluru,
Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Shimla and Varanasi.
• Among these cities,
Shimla has the lowest mortality rate, with just 59
deaths occurring each year, accounting for about 3.7
per cent of the total deaths that are caused by pollution.
• About 7.2
percent of the total deaths in these cities, i.e. about
33,000
deaths every year, are due to air pollution.
• When all ten cities
were taken together, mortality increased by 1.42
percent for every 10 μg/m3
increase in PM2.5 levels.
• There was considerable
variation among cities, with Delhi seeing a 0.31
percent increase in mortality, while Bengaluru saw a 3.06
percent increase.
• This suggests that
people living in less polluted cities have a higher risk of mortality due to
increased pollution than those living in polluted cities.
Air Pollution:
• Air pollution refers
to any physical, chemical, or biological change in the air.
• It is the contamination
of the air by harmful gases, dust, and smoke that adversely affects plants,
animals, and humans.
• This imbalance in the
gaseous composition has led to an increase in the earth’s temperature, which is
known as global warming.
Types of Air Pollutants
Primary Pollutants
• Pollutants that
directly cause air pollution are called primary pollutants.
• Sulphur dioxide
emitted from factories is a primary pollutant.
Secondary Pollutants
• Pollutants that are
formed by the mixing and reaction of primary pollutants are called secondary
pollutants.
• Smog, which is formed
by the mixing of smoke and fog, is a secondary pollutant.
Causes of Air Pollution in
India
Air pollution in India is caused by a
combination of several factors, including industrial activities, vehicular
emissions, construction and agricultural activities.
1. Vehicular Emissions
• The rapid increase in
the number of vehicles on the roads contributes significantly to air pollution.
• Emissions from cars,
trucks and buses release a large amount of pollutants into the air.
2. Industrial Emissions
• Industries and
factories emit pollutants such as sulfur dioxide (SO2),
nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) into the air.
• These emissions are
particularly high in urban and industrial areas.
3. Construction Activities
• Dust and particulate
matter from construction sites contribute significantly to air pollution.
• Construction
activities generate large amounts of dust, which is a major source of PM10
and PM2.5.
4. Burning of Fossil Fuels
• The combustion of
coal, diesel and petrol in power plants, vehicles and homes releases harmful
pollutants into the atmosphere.
• These include carbon
monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2)
and nitrogen oxides (NOx).
5. Agricultural practices
• Burning of stubble in
agricultural fields, especially in Punjab and Haryana, has a significant impact
on air quality.
• This practice releases
large amounts of smoke and particulate matter into the air.
Components of air pollution
Air pollution consists of a variety of harmful
substances, both solid particles and gases. The main components of air
pollution include:
1. Particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10)
• Particulate matter
refers to small particles suspended in the air.
• PM2.5
particles are less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter and can penetrate deep into the
lungs, causing serious health problems.
• PM10
particles are less than 10 micrometers in diameter.
2. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
• Nitrogen dioxide is a
gas produced by burning fuel in vehicles, power plants, and industrial
processes.
• It can cause problems
in the airways and aggravate respiratory diseases.
3. Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
• Sulfur
dioxide is released from the burning of fossil fuels in power plants and
industrial processes.
• It can cause respiratory
problems and contributes to the formation of acid rain.
4. Carbon Monoxide (CO)
• Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced
by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels.
• High levels of CO can
be fatal, as it reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen.
Challenges of Air Pollution
Control
Controlling air pollution in India presents
several significant challenges for the government, including:
Rapid Urbanization and
Industrialization
• Rapid urbanization and
industrialization lead to increased emissions from vehicles, industries, and
construction activities.
Vehicle Emissions
• The rapid increase in
the number of vehicles on the roads contributes significantly to air pollution.
Agricultural practices
• Burning of stubble in
agricultural fields especially in the states of Punjab and Haryana causes
severe air pollution.
Inadequate supply of water
Poor transport infrastructure
• Lack of efficient public transport systems
leads to reliance on private vehicles, which increases emissions.
Enforcement issues
• Weak enforcement of existing air quality
regulations and standards further exacerbates the problem.
Effects of air pollution
Air pollution has widespread and serious
impacts on health, the environment and the economy:
Health effects
• Respiratory and cardiovascular diseases,
worsening of asthma, lung cancer and premature death are common health problems
caused by air pollution.
Environmental effects
• Air pollution causes acid rain, reduces
visibility and harms wildlife and vegetation.
Economic effects
• Increased healthcare costs, reduced
productivity and negative impacts on tourism and agriculture.
Major Initiatives Taken by the
Government to Control Air Pollution
The Government of India has taken several
initiatives to tackle air pollution:
National Clean Air
Programme (NCAP)
• It aims to reduce PM2.5 and PM10 levels by
20-30% by 2024.
Bharat Stage Emission
Standards
• Implementation of stricter emission norms
for vehicles to reduce vehicular pollution.
Odd-Even Rule
• Implemented in Delhi to reduce vehicular
emissions by allowing vehicles with odd and even number plates to ply on
alternate days.
Graded Response Action Plan
(GRAP)
• A set of measures to be implemented based on
the severity of air pollution, including restrictions on construction
activities and vehicular movement.
Promotion of Electric
Vehicles
• Incentives and subsidies to encourage the
adoption of electric vehicles, reducing dependence on fossil fuels.