In the beginning of the new year this month, air pollution has reached on edge of emergency in Delhi
NEW DELHI:
Air pollution stood on the brink of the emergency level due to a rapid build up of particulate matter owing to foggy conditions, even as Delhiites stepped out in large numbers to mark the first day of the New Year.
The day’s average air quality index (AQI) was at 400, classified as ‘very poor’ by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). However, it was just one point short of ‘severe’, the worst AQI in the CPCB index. SAFAR, which has its own monitoring network, recorded ‘severe’ levels of pollution. The dense fog resulted in pollutants getting trapped in the air. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board suggested that air quality in the national Capital remained in the ‘very poor’ zone on Friday morning. The pollution graph maintained by the Central Air Quality Monitoring Room of the CPCB was indicative of the rapid fall in air quality. The high levels of moisture manifested itself in the form of fog, which in turn trapped particulates. The levels will come down if the fog precipitates.
A study reveals that Residential biomass burning deadliest source of air pollution. Of the total 1.1 million deaths related to air pollution in 2015, the highest number was due to residential biomass fuel burning, it says. Residential biomass burning is mainly responsible for the death of at least 267,700 people in 2015, or nearly 25% of the deaths attributable to Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5, making it the most important single anthropogenic source of mortality due to air pollution, as per the report of a study. Coal combustion, dusts, transport, diesel, and brick kilns are the other major contributors to air pollution. Of the total 1.1 million air pollution related deaths in 2015, the burden falls disproportionately (75%) on rural areas. Of the total 1.1 million deaths, the highest number was due to residential biomass fuel burning, followed by coal combustion from both thermal electric power plants and industry, which resulted in 169,000 deaths. Apart from that, anthropogenic dusts contributed to 100,000 deaths, open burning of agricultural residue contributed to 66,000, and transport, diesel, and kilns contributed to over 65,000 deaths in India in 2015.
“This systematic analysis of emissions from all sources and their impact on ambient air pollution exposure found significant contributions from regional sources (like residential biomass, agricultural residue burning and industrial coal), underlying that from local sources (like transportation and brick kilns),” said Dr Chandra Venkataraman of IIT Bombay, who led the air pollution source analysis.
However, experts have repeatedly pointed out that air pollution is not just a Delhi-NCR phenomenon but a nationwide challenge that requires focused effort.
