India: Should Human Health And Livelihood Be Left At The Mercy of Air Pollution?

To live is air, but where is air? - a concern of many air-polluted countries. Without timely air pollution control, we have to befriend oxygen cylinders.

To live is air, but where is air? A concern of many air-polluted countries. Without timely air pollution control, we have to befriend oxygen cylinders. India is the 5th most polluted country [WHO, 2022]. An alarming fact, 21 Indian cities are on the list of the top 30 polluted cities [World Economic Forum]. 

Pollutants are from agriculture, industries, transportation, and power plants. All age groups suffer from pollution-related health problems. Like cold and cough, wheezing, asthma, pneumonia, lung cancers, allergies, and heart diseases. With brain development hindered and lower immune systems arise other health concerns. Neonatal mortality, premature birth, and low birth weight add to the distress [BMS Glob Health, 2020]. 

Children are more susceptible to pollution than adults. They breathe rapidly and are close to the ground inhaling the pollutants. Research at Tripathi Lab, IIT Kanpur, noticed ground-level ozone absorption in plants. This ozone affects their metabolism hence the yield. Agriculture in India relies on monsoon rain. But pollutants mark the amount and region of rain. 

These illnesses and the smog have forced children to stay away from school, especially in Delhi. The workforce is either ill or at home to look after the sick. The stay away from work leads to the loss of income and an add-on economic burden. In 2017, a $30-75 billion gain was unachievable due to labor loss. Brown-grey skies disrupt travel for business or tourism, hampering the country’s economy.  

In the National Clean Air Program, the government aims to reduce 20%-30% of particulate pollutants by 2024. It has set up monitoring stations in cities and norms for coal-based power plants. It has invested in technology like the SAMEER app, which gives information on air quality and registers polluting activities. It provides cleaner fuels like LPG for cooking and CNG cylinders for vehicles. 

Other actions include 33% green cover in urban areas and accessible public transport. Building infrastructure such as roads to ease traffic flow and move industries from urban areas need more finance. Pollution levels dipped during the pandemic lockdown but bounced once the restrictions were relaxed. This clearly indicates that citizens should take accountability and opt for green solutions. Implying many practical measures can reinforce air pollution control. 

The United States offers Emissions Trading where economic incentives are given to citizens to reduce pollution concentration. London enforced Congestion Charge - a driver entering peak zones has to pay charges for doing so. Rapid work to reduce air pollution should be India’s top priority. 

According to a report by Lancet 2020, 1.6 million deaths in 2019 were due to air pollution. Global Health Expenditure database showed that India spent 3% of its GDP  on health care in 2022. Pollutants should be less than five micrograms per cubic meter of air [WHO]. It is instructive to note that no Indian cities meet this standard. In 2021, 48% of towns exceeded 50 micrograms per cubic meter. 

This measure is ten times more than the recommended levels of the pollutant. The call of the hour is a suitable investment in preventing and controlling air pollution to be sustainable. Only collaborations between the Indian government and its citizens will make this possible. 

In a global 8 billion population, less than 1% breathe air as per WHO air quality guidelines. This is certainly not sustainable. Air has no barriers, so  all global citizens need to give attention and care to ‘The Air We Share.’ 

Reference 

https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=194865