Air Pollution: The Silent Killer Of India

Air pollution is a silent killer as the issues based around it are hardly considered by the government and the general audience.

However, the issues related to it are real and pose a serious threat to our existence. Pollutants generated by factories, automobiles, and residential sections of the society have affected the atmosphere adversely. The increase in the generation of pollutants has automatically degraded the human lifestyle.

We all know that air pollution is the reason behind many kinds of diseases. Air pollution leads to health problems like breathing issues, lower immunity, lung cancer, heart strokes, ischaemic heart disease, and many more.

Since air pollution is so deadly, we need to curb it down at any cost.

David Boyd even termed air pollution as a pandemic because it kills as many people as deadly diseases do.  Air pollution affects our health gradually as being exposed to it does not immediately deteriorate and damage our well-being.

However, it can be detrimental to our body and mind in the long run. This is the reason why air pollution is known as a Silent Killer.

The air quality of India is getting poor as the country strives to reach the top of the corporate ladder. India is home to the maximum number of patients that suffer from different types of breathing ailments due to exposure to air pollution.

To showcase the issue of air pollution in India, we have jotted down a certain number of stats and figures to support our claim.

India is infamously known as one of the most polluted countries in the world.  And air pollution is one of the most dangerous issues which India is tackling as of today. Let us look at the most air-polluted cities in India.

PreCovid period saw really bad air quality in few cities of India. This is primarily due to the fact that the country is looking to establish itself as a corporate powerhouse.

Likewise, India is also striving to improve its industrial landscape. However, after the lockdown was introduced, the air quality in many cities showed drastic changes from March 24th to April 14th. 

People were confined to their residential apartments as automobile transportation was completely restricted.

Also because of less industrial activities, there were fewer pollutants in the air. Likewise, pollutants released in the air almost completely stopped. The PM 2.5 and PM 10 of Delhi were reduced to 42.1 and 86, respectively.

Ghaziabad also showed improvement with PM 2.5 of 45.7 and PM 10 of 101.2. Similarly, cities like Noida, Gurugram, and Greater Noida showcased a PM 2.5 of 39.1, 36.5, and 35.8, respectively. 

fter things started to get back to normal, in the month of May, it was observed that the PM 2.5 and PM 10 of Delhi, Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, and Gurugram had shown a sudden increase. For example, the PM 2.5 of Delhi was recorded to 60.3, whereas the PM 10 was recorded to 173.9.

In Oct 2020, the air quality started degrading as PM 2.5 and PM 10 started rising due to the restarting of industrial activities and the burning of stubble in the North Indian States.

The PM 2.5 and PM 10 of Delhi during this month were 61 and 156 respectively. The PM 2.5 and PM 10 of Ghaziabad increased to 66.1 and 165.6. Similarly, Noida also showed an increase in PM 2.5 and PM 10 of 87 and 161.

The PM 2.5 and PM 10 of Gurugram and Greater Noida have increased to 52.5, 125, and 113.3, 261 respectively. 

As we all know, India has a great problem when it comes to air pollution, here we have stated a few primary reasons which contribute to the excess air pollution in the country.

 One of the biggest contributing elements to air pollution is emission from automobiles vehicles. Every year millions of vehicles are sold in the country and this is what is leading to the rise of air pollution.

Other factors that contribute greatly to air pollution are emissions from industries, construction dust, burning of wastes, burning rice field stubble after harvest in North Indian states, thermal power plants, and biomass cooking fuels.

The coal-fired power plants are another cause of air pollution. In India, there are many coal-fired power plants that contribute to air pollution in a major way.

However these plants are responsible for the maximum production of electricity in the country. Hence, due to India’s such dependency on coal, air pollution is on the rise. 

India being a developing nation, is currently leading the global economy on various levels. Moreover, the nation is densely populated, which, in turn, causes a significant level of pollution. Air Quality Index or AQI is a scale that is used to measure the quality of air within a particular living environment.

Delhi being the capital city, is at the very forefront of this industrial revolution. Likewise, the AQI of Delhi and the regions surrounding the location (NCR) are perhaps the most populated in the country. Delhi registered 367 AQI in October 2017. AQI levels of 367 were recorded on 29 October 2018, 368 AQI on 28 October 2019, and 328 AQI in October 2020.

Regions around Delhi, like Ghaziabad, Noida, and Gurugram, also experienced significant amounts of pollution. Ghaziabad registered 323 AQI in October 2017, 430 AQI in October 2018, 446 AQI on 29 October of 2019, and 324 AQI in October 2020, respectively.

Noida, on the other hand, recorded 402 AQI in October 2017, 374 AQI on 29 October 2018, 356 AQI on 28 October 2019, and 324 AQI in October 2020.

Finally, Gurugram registered 398 AQI in October 2017, 375 in October 2018, 362 in October 2019, and 314 AQI in October 2020.

How To Measure Air Quality?

The universal way to measure air quality is via the US Air Quality Index or more popularly known as AQI. In AQI, a scale of 0-500 is given, where higher the AQI reflects greater the air pollution.

The more the air pollution, the more it is harmful to health. Generally, AQI below 50 signifies that the air quality is good. On the other hand, if the AQI exceeds the 300 mark, then it signifies that the air quality is hazardous.

The AQI is divided into 6 groups, where each group defines how badly the air is polluted. The first group is the green group where the air quality lies in between 0 to 50. In this group, the air quality is considered to be safe and it poses no risk to the health.

Next is the yellow group, where the AQI ranges from 51 to 100.In this group, the air quality is considered to be acceptable and it poses risk to some people who are sensitive to air pollution.

When the AQI ranges from 101 to 150, it falls under the orange group. In this group, people belonging to the sensitive group can face issues and the general public is less likely to be affected.

If the AQI ranges from 151-200, then some people of the general public might be affected. Sensitive group people can experience more serious issues.  AQI between 201-300 can pose a serious health risk for everyone.

Lastly, if the AQI is 301 or higher, then it is termed and treated as danger zone.

Air pollution not only damages our environment but also affects the health of individuals in the long run. Following are some adverse effects of air pollution on human health:

• Hair Damage: It is one of the most fundamental issues related to air pollution, as millions of people have faced issues related to hair fall and irritation.
• Eye and Mucous Membranes: Air pollution causes eye infection and damages the Mucous Membrane in the long run.
• Fatigue, Headache & Anxiety: Air pollution increases the chances of experiencing anxiety and may hamper mental health. It also triggers extreme levels of headache and increases fatigue levels.
• Respiratory Damage: One of the most foremost issues related to air pollution is that it causes a wide variety of respiratory illnesses and increases breathing problems in individuals.
• Cardiovascular Damage: Breathing in polluted air can damage your cardiovascular health.
• Liver Spleen & Blood Damage: The toxic pollutants present in the air destroy the liver spleen and reduce the creation of fresh RBC.
• Skin Damage: Constant exposure to polluted air can cause various forms of skin diseases to occur.

The issues related to air pollution affect the elderly, children, and pregnant women the most. Therefore, it is advised to stay indoors as much as possible, especially during the day, to avoid being affected by harmful toxins present in the air.

To overcome the issues related to air pollution, people should look to incorporate plants inside their living apartments. Every individual can contribute by avoiding smoking cigarettes altogether. 

Moreover, it is essential that we stay hydrated at all times as it helps to flush out all the toxins from our body. Relying on a healthy diet is also essential as it gives our overall immunity system a boost.

Following measures should be incorporated to fight the issues related to air pollution:

• Use Pollution Mask: Wearing anti-pollution masks will stop you from inhaling harmful toxins. These masks are designed to prohibit dust particles and pollutants from entering the human body.
• Use Air Purifier: Installation of air purifiers can limit the effects of harmful pollutants present in the air.
• Avoid Outdoor Activities: Limiting outdoor activities, especially during the day, can mitigate the ill-effects of air pollution.
• Plant Trees: Planting trees is the most sustainable and long term solution to air pollution.