Tackling Air Pollution

Dr. Sitaram Dixit, Chairman – Consumer Guidance Society of India (CGSI)

We refer to air pollution as the contamination of region, especially for its children and older
ambient air by any harmful or poisonous citizens. Economy of any country prospers only
substance or pollutants. when healthy people run businesses in its full
efficiency. Sick people stay out of work costing a
Types of Pollutants country’s economy seriously.
Primary pollutants include ash, nitrogen oxides Controlling Air Pollution
produced during high temperature combustion,
carbon monoxide from fuel combustion, vehicle Prevention is better than cure, is a statement very
exhaust and sulphur oxides from industrial units apt for this serious issue of pollution. Regular
produced, (VOC) volatile organic compounds monitoring and prevention methods both from
(methane, benzene, toluene, xylene, 1, 3, government and from individuals are important.
butadiene, etc.) originating directly from a Air Quality Index (AQI) makes understanding air
process. quality easy by transforming air quality data of
various pollutants into a single number (index
Other pollutants include particulate matter (PM), value), terminology and colour.
from natural dust storms, forest grassland fires
also smoke, due to human actions like burning Introducing mandatory government laws and
forest fuels, power plants, industrial and regulations for using green energy (wind, solar,
construction activities, ammonia emissions from other renewable sources, etc.), promoting energy
agricultural processes, pharmaceutical industries, efficient electric vehicles and minimizing use of
persistent free radicals connected to fine dust fossil fuels become necessary. At an individual
particles; malodour from rubbish and sewage level, people should make use of buses, trains or
dumps, fumes from consumer aerosol sprays, cycle to commute. Use energy wisely and use
paints and varnish, cigarette smoke, in addition to household electrical goods only when necessary as
toxic metal compounds of lead and mercury and we must burn fossil fuels to generate electricity.
radioactive pollutants due to natural radioactive
decay of radon. Some effective measures that could
improve the lives of millions of people
Biological sources of air pollution comprise, across the world by getting air pollution
indoor gases and particulates like dust that people under control are:
produce from minutes skin flakes, decomposed
hair, pet’s dander, faecal droppings, mould forms 1. Introduce post-combustion emission
in walls generating mycotoxins and spores, garden standards and controls or end-of-pipe
pollen dust, etc. Secondary pollutants are ones not methods to reduce, particulate matter, SO2 &
emitted directly but are reaction products of NO2 at power stations, brick kilns and
primary pollutants like the formation of ground industries.
level ozone that make up a photochemical smog. 2. Improve emission standards for vehicles,
specially focusing on regulation of diesel
Effects of Air Pollution vehicles, with regular inspection and
maintenance by enforcing mandatory checks
Air pollution is one of the biggest challenges the and repairs.
world over threatening human and animal 3. Encourage use of public transport vehicles,
existence due its ill effects of global warming, cycle bikes, etc.
smog, acid rains, respiratory diseases, lung cancer 4. Control dust pollution by suppressing
and other ailments. According to the World construction and road dust; and use of
Health Organization (WHO), 90% of the world’s mechanical dust collectors, electrostatic
population faces air pollution dangers. The precipitators capable of removing fine
concern here is that 14 of the world’s 15 most particulates such as dust streams and smoke
polluted cities are in India and unless we fight this from air.
menace seriously, it could snowball into a major 5. Regular sprinkling of water can control dust
crisis making India soon into an inhabitable pollution largely.

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6. Increase green areas by carrying out tree 12. Use clean cooking and heating fuels,
plantations. electricity, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas
7. Ban, open burning, of both agricultural crop (LPG), biogas and briquettes, etc., instead of
residues and household wastes. coal.
8. Introduce covered storage and efficient 13. Foster use of renewable like wind, solar and
application of livestock manures; encourage hydropower for electricity generation and
anaerobic digestion. encourage use of energy efficient household
9. Use nitrogen fertilizers efficiently for e.g., appliances, electric vehicles for transport.
substitute urea with ammonium nitrate or use 14. Encourage effective solid waste management
along with urease inhibitors. by centralized waste collection, separation and
10. Use low sulphur fuels with stricter control of treatment.
particulate emissions during international 15. Recycle and reuse things (plastics, clothing,
shipping. paper, glass, other household equipment’s,
11. Restrict too much use of solvent in industrial etc.) wherever possible to minimize
and household paints and arrest leak and/or unnecessary industrial production that also
incineration. creates pollution.

AQI Category, Pollutants and Health Breakpoints

AQI
PM10 PM2.5 NO2 O3 CO SO2 NH3 Pb
Category Associated Health Impact
(24hr) (24hr) (24hr) (8hr) (8hr) (24hr) (24hr) (24hr)
(Range)
Good 0– 0– 0–
0–50 0–30 0–40 0–40 0–0.5 Negligible
(0–50) 50 1.0 200
Possibly could cause slight
Satisfactory 51– 31– 41– 51– 1.1– 201– 0.5–
41–80 discomfort while breathing in
(51–100) 100 60 80 100 2.0 400 1.0 sensitive individuals.
Individuals (especially children &
Moderately older adults), persons with heart
101– 61– 81– 101– 2.1– 81– 401– 1.1–
polluted ailments or lung disease (asthma)
(101–200) 250 90 180 168 10 380 800 2.0 could experience breathing
discomfort.
Prolonged exposure to poor air
Poor 251– 91– 181– 169– 10– 381– 801– 2.1– could cause breathing discomfort to
(201–300) 350 120 280 208 17 800 1200 3.0 individuals suffering from heart
disease.
Individuals having lung and heart
Very poor 351– 121– 281– 209– 17– 801– 1200– 3.1– diseases could additionally suffer
(301–400) 430 250 400 748 34 1600 1800 3.5 from respiratory ailments on
prolonged exposure.
It seriously affects health of people
with lung and/or heart disease.
Severe Even healthy individuals could
(401–500) 430+ 250+ 400+ 748+ 34+ 1600+ 1800+ 3.5+ suffer from respiratory issues and
experience discomfort during light
physical activity.

We can prevent air pollution only if we stop using all toxic substances causing it. Ceasing the use of all
fossil fuel-burning processes is far-fetched and unlikely to happen. The best possible in this scenario is
to make rules, set stringent regulations both on industrial manufacturing stages and at consumer,
handling levels, primarily designing it to reduce harmful emissions into the earth's atmosphere.

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