Air pollution in Delhi

A dense toxic smog in New Delhi blocks out the sun. Photo November 8, 2017.[1]
MISR Measurement, Nov. 5, 2016: The optical depth of the thick haze was too much for calculation, "because the haze is so thick that the algorithm has classified the area as cloud." (less than 37 percent of sunlight, AQI=751).

The air quality in Delhi, the capital territory of India, according to a WHO survey of 1,650 world cities, is the worst of any major city in the world. It also affects the districts around Delhi.[2][3] Air pollution in India is estimated to kill about 2 million people every year; it is the fifth largest killer in India. India has the world's highest death rate from chronic respiratory diseases and asthma, according to the WHO. In Delhi, poor quality air irreversibly damages the lungs of 2.2 million or 50 percent of all children.

On 25 November 2019, the Supreme Court of India made statements on the pollution in Delhi saying "Delhi has become worse than narak (hell)".[4] Supreme Court Justice Arun Mishra said that it is better to get explosives and kill everyone.[5]

During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in India, The water quality of the Yamuna and Ganges river basins have improved as industries are closed due to the lockdown.[6][7][8][9] The air quality has also significantly improved during the lockdown.[10]

India's Ministry of Earth Sciences published a research paper in October 2018 attributing almost 41% to vehicular emissions, 21.5% to dust and 18% to industries.[11] The director of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) alleged that the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) is lobbying "against the report" because it is "inconvenient" to the automobile industry.[12]

Air quality index of Delhi is generally Moderate (101–200) level between January to September, and then it drastically deteriorates to Very Poor (301–400), Severe (401–500) or Hazardous (500+) levels during October to December due to various factors including stubble burning, road dust, vehicle pollution and cold weather.[13][14][15] In November 2017, in an event known as the Great Smog of Delhi, the air pollution spiked far beyond acceptable levels. Levels of PM2.5 and PM 10 particulate matter hit 999 micrograms per cubic meter, while the safe limits for those pollutants are 60 and 100 respectively.[16]

Delhi's pollution problem is also caused by the factor of animal agriculture, as smog and other harmful particles are produced by farmers burning their crop in other states. About 80 per cent of agriculturally used land is used for animal agriculture, so animal agriculture can also be attributed as a factor in Delhi's air pollution problem.[17] Initiatives such as a 1,600 km long and 5 km wide The Great Green Wall of Aravalli green ecological corridor along Aravalli range from Gujarat to Delhi which will also connect to Shivalik hill range is being considered with planting of 1.35 billion (135 crores) new native trees over 10 years to combat the pollution.[18] In December 2019, IIT Bombay, in partnership with the McKelvey School of Engineering of Washington University in St. Louis, launched the Aerosol and Air Quality Research Facility to study air pollution in India.[19]

Particulate matter levels in Delhi

Air quality or ambient/outdoor air pollution is represented by the annual mean concentration of particulate matter PM10 (particles smaller than 10 microns) and PM2.5 (particles smaller than 2.5 microns, about 25 to 100 times thinner than a human hair).[20]

The world's average PM10 levels, for the period 2008 and 2013, based on data of 1600 cities in 91 countries, range from 26 to 208 micrograms per cubic meter of air (μg/m3), with the world average being 71 μg/m3.[2] 13 of the 25 cities worldwide with the highest levels of PM are in India.[21]

In 2010, the year of the WHO survey, the average PM10 level in Delhi was 286 μg/m3. In 2013, the PM2.5 level was 153 μg/m3. These levels are considered very unhealthy. In Gwalior, the city with the worst air quality in India, the PM10 and PM2.5 levels were 329 μg/m3 and 144 μg/m3 respectively. For comparison, the PM10 and PM2.5 levels in London were 22 μg/m3 and 16 μg/m3 respectively. The PM levels in Delhi have become worse since the WHO survey. In December–January 2015, in Delhi, an average PM2.5 level of 226 μg/m3 was noted by US embassy monitors in Delhi. The average in Beijing for the same period was 95.[22] Delhi's air is twice as bad as Beijing's air.[21] As of October 2017, experts in several monitoring stations have reportedly measured an air quality index (AQI) of 999. According to said experts this is the equivalent of smoking 45 to 50 cigarettes a day. This has led to some government officials, such as Arvind Kejriwal calling the nation's capital a "gas chamber".[23]

Safe levels for PM according to the WHO's air quality guidelines are 20 μg/m3 (annual mean) for PM10 and 10 μg/m3 (annual mean) for PM2.5.[24]

Causes of poor air quality

  • Lack of active monitoring and reaction by authorities.
  • Overpopulation.
  • Lack of political priority.
  • Motor vehicle emissions are one of the causes of poor air quality. Other causes include wood-burning fires, fires on agricultural land, exhaust from diesel generators, dust from construction sites, burning garbage[25][26] and illegal industrial activities in Delhi. Although pollution is at its worst from November to February, Delhi's air misses clean-air standards by a wide margin for much of the year. It is a noxious mix of emissions from its 9 million vehicles, construction dust and burning of waste. On the worst days, the air quality index, a benchmark ranging from zero (good) to 500 (hazardous), exceeds 400.[27]
  • The Badarpur Thermal Power Station, a coal-fired power plant built in 1973, is another major source of air pollution in Delhi. Despite producing less than 8% of the city's electric power, it produces 80 to 90% of the particulate matter pollution from the electric power sector in Delhi.[28] During the Great smog of Delhi in November 2017, the Badarpur Power Plant was temporarily shut down to alleviate the acute air pollution but was allowed to restart on 1 February 2018.[29] In view of the detrimental effect to the environment, the power plant has been permanently shut down since 15 October 2018 [30]
  • The drift/mist emissions from the wet cooling towers are also a source of particulate matter as they are widely used in industry and other sectors for dissipating heat in cooling systems.[31]
  • Although Delhi is kerosene free and 90% of the households use LPG for cooking, the remaining 10% uses wood, crop residue, cow dung, and coal for cooking. (Census-India, 2011)
  • Fire in Bhalswa landfill is a major reason for airborne particles in Delhi.[32]
  • Heavy metal-rich fire-crackers
  • Agricultural stubble burning also affects Delhi's air quality when crops are being harvested.[33]

Taj Mahal

The white marble of which the Taj Mahal is made is losing its white lustre and becoming discoloured. This is due to air pollution caused by the industries located in and around Agra, and the oil refinery at Mathura. The acid rain caused due to air pollution eats into marble, and the SPM in the air is deposited on the marble, discolouring it. The Supreme Court has ordered industries around the Taj Mahal to switch over to non-polluting fuels such as CNG and LPG. The has resulted in some reduction in air pollution.

Effects of poor air quality

A view from Old Delhi (year 1857) to mountains of Himalaya range

Effects on children

2.2 million children in Delhi have irreversible lung damage due to the poor quality of the air. In addition, research shows that pollution can lower children's immune system and increase the risks of cancer, epilepsy, diabetes and even adult-onset diseases like multiple sclerosis. Children are more vulnerable to the negative effects of air pollution as they are growing and developing which means that they breathe a higher rate of air per kilogram of their body weight. They also spend more time outside and are thus more exposed to it.[34]

Effects on adults

Poor air quality is a cause of reduced lung capacity, headaches, sore throats, coughs, fatigue, lung cancer, and early death.[24][34] During the ongoing Covid 19 pandemic, in case the particulate matter (≤ pp10) is not controlled, the aerosols would work as virus carriers/host in the rapid spread of the pandemic.[35]

Smog in Delhi

Smog in Delhi
Low visibility due to Smog at New Delhi Railway station 31st Dec 2017 after 9AM DSCN8829 1.jpg
Low visibility due to Smog at New Delhi railway station 31 December 2017. Railway building is not visible.
LocationDelhi, India

Smog in Delhi is an ongoing severe air-pollution event in New Delhi and adjoining areas in the National Capital Territory of India.[36] Air pollution in 2017 peaked on both PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels.[37] It has been reported as one of the worst levels of air quality in Delhi since 1999.[38]

Low visibility has resulted in accidents across the city, notably a 24 vehicle pile-up on the Yamuna Expressway.[39]

"The Great Smog" also led to cancellation and delay of public transport, primarily trains and flights, causing many hindrances to the people.[40]

Background

Source of pollution

The current majority of analysis sources are hinting towards colder weather, stagnant winds trapping the various sources of smoke. The primary sources of smoke are stubble burning, lit garbage, road dust, power plants, factories, and vehicles.

Air quality can be measured by the amount of PM 2.5 and PM 10 particulates suspended in the air. On 7 November 2017 the PM 2.5 levels in Delhi shot up to a high 999, much above the recommended 60 micrograms. At the same time, PM 10 shot to 999 (the maximum level for the monitors), instead of the recommended limit of 100.[16]

Again on 8 November 2017 the PM 2.5 levels shot up to 449. At the same time PM 10 shot to 663.[41]

Weather

The temperature in New Delhi during this period was from 15 to 29 °C (~66 °F).

Incident

During the second day of the third test of Sri Lankan cricket team in India in 2017-18 at Delhi, smog forced Sri Lanka cricketers to stop playing and wear anti-pollution masks. Cricketer Lahiru Gamage reported to have shortness of breath.[42] Nic Pothas, coach of Sri Lankan cricket team, reported that cricketer Suranga Lakmal had vomited regularly due to severe pollution effect on the Delhi ground. There was a halt of play between 12:32 pm to 12:49 pm which caused Indian coach Ravi Shastri to come out aggressively and have a talk with the field umpire David Boon.[43]

State reaction

A Health Emergency was declared in the capital by the Central Government of India to cope with the extrusive amount of polluted air. The day was declared as a holiday for schools, offices and other government centres.

Effects

Health effects

The government of Delhi has declared a health advisory.[38]

  • Breathlessness
  • Chest constriction
  • Irritation in eyes
  • Asthma
  • Allergy

Control measures

In 2016, the Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, proposed these measures to reduce air pollution. The efficacy of any individual step has been a matter of public debate.[44]

  • All Delhi schools will remain shut for the next few days.
  • For the next five days, no construction and demolition work will take place in Delhi.
  • All diesel generator sets have been banned for the next ten days, except at hospitals and in emergencies.
  • The Delhi government will supply power to unauthorized colonies which use diesel generators.
  • The coal-based Badarpur power plant will be shut down for ten days. There will be no-fly ash transportation from the power plant.
  • The Environment Department will launch an app to monitor the burning of leaves.
  • Vacuum cleaning of roads will start on 10 November.
  • Water sprinkling will start on all roads from the next following days.
  • People should stay at home as much as they can and they should try working from home.
  • As per Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India scheme it is expected by 2030 all vehicles will be Battery electric and Hybrid
  • All combustion engined vehicles will be upgraded to BS6 emission standards
  • Any vehicle older than 10-15 years or below BS6 emissions will be banned
  • By 2021, the entire Delhi Metro is expected to be 100% powered by solar energy

In October 2020, Delhi authorities established a 10-member air pollution control team working in a dedicated conference room. They examine complaints received through the "Green Delhi" mobile app. As of 2020, they also regulate construction dust and ban diesel generators. Air pollution is an issue of special concern during the COVID-19 pandemic because the virus can damage people's lungs and make them less able to cope with pollution.[45][46]

Longer term measures

On 25 November 2017, the Supreme Court of India banned the sale of firecrackers in Delhi to alleviate pollution.[47]

In another measure, the extremely polluting Badarpur power plant was permanently shut down on 15 October 2018.[48][49]Recently in October, 2020 union environment ministry has formed a commission for Air Quality Management in National capital region and Adjoining Area Ordinance.[50]

Air quality monitoring stations

Days with healthy (= green) or unhealthy conditions with air pollution in year 2018.
PM 2.5, Air quality index (AQI).

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has air quality monitoring stations in Mathura Road, IMD Delhi (Jor Bagh area), IGI Airport, IITM Delhi, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital (Ghaziabad area), Dhirpur, Delhi Technological University, Pitampura, Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies (Rohini), Aya Nagar (Gurgaon), and Noida.[51] The air pollution monitor of the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi covers the area of Chanakyapuri.[52]

Response of expatriates

To contend with the poor air quality, embassies and international businesses in Delhi are considering reducing staff tenures, advising staff to reconsider bringing their children to Delhi, providing high-end air purifiers, and installing expensive air purifiers in their offices.[3]

Major incidents

In December 2017 during a test match between Sri Lankan and Indian cricket teams in New Delhi, Sri Lanka players began to feel breathing problems and several players vomited both in the restrooms and in the field and had to use face masks until the match was stopped.[53] However Indian side was unsympathetic to the Sri Lankan team, Hindi commentators joked on air that Sri Lankan players were using masks to hide their faces after having taken the beating of their lives while prominent people lauded Indian cricket team's nationalism on Twitter claiming that they sacrificed their health to entertain the crowd that had turned up, while Virender Sehwag called it an act to stop Virat Kohli from scoring a triple century.[54][53] However, after the resumption of the match Indian player Mohammad Shami also vomited. Before Shami had said that while pollution levels are a concern, Indian players are used to such conditions.[55][56] In the opinion of the Indian Medical Association president the match should never have taken place and the ICC should have a policy on pollution.[57]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Delhi, Blanketed in Toxic Haze, 'Has Become a Gas Chamber'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 8 November 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Ambient (outdoor) air pollution in cities database 2014". who.int. WHO. 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  3. ^ a b Harris, Gardiner (14 February 2015). "Delhi Wakes Up to an Air Pollution Problem It Cannot Ignore". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  4. ^ "'Delhi worse than hell': Supreme Court rebukes Centre, states on air pollution". Hindustan Times. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  5. ^ ""Better To Get Explosives, Kill Everyone": Supreme Court On Delhi Pollution". NDTV.com. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  6. ^ "Lockdown makes Ganga water significantly cleaner". LiveMint. 4 April 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  7. ^ Naqvi, Haider; Kumar, Sudhir (4 April 2020). "Lockdown does what decades of schemes couldn't: Clean Ganga". HT Digital Streams Ltd. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  8. ^ "India's coronavirus lockdown reveals fresh air, cleaner rivers". Living Media India Ltd. 22 April 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
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  12. ^ "UA vicious nexus". Down to Earth. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
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  15. ^ "Air pollution: Delhi enjoys cleanest February in three years". 27 February 2018.
  16. ^ a b Express Web Desk (1 November 2016). "Diwali effect: Pollution worsens, particulate matter soars in Delhi". Indian Express.
  17. ^ farming pollution
  18. ^ Want govt to build 1600 km green wall along Aravalli, Indian Express, 24 December 2019.
  19. ^ "McKelvey Engineering, IIT Bombay partner to study air pollution | The Source | Washington University in St. Louis". The Source. 4 December 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
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  21. ^ a b Alissa Walker, Alissa (29 May 2015). "India's Air Pollution Is So Bad It's Causing Lung Damage in Kids". gizmodo. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  22. ^ Air Pollution in India: Real-time Air Quality Index Visual Map, http://aqicn.org/map/india/
  23. ^ Roli Mahajan (15 March 2018). "10% of the disease burden". D+C, development and cooperation. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  24. ^ a b "WHO Air quality guidelines for particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide Global update 2005 Summary of risk assessment" (PDF). WHO. 2005. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  25. ^ Bengali, Shashank (4 January 2016). "To fight the world's worst air pollution, New Delhi forces cars off the roads". Los Angeles Times. pp. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
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  28. ^ "The Badarpur Plant's effect on Air Pollution and why it needs to be shut down". The Economic Times. 12 August 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
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  30. ^ "Badarpur thermal plant, Delhi's biggest power generator, to shut down from October 15".
  31. ^ "Wet cooling towers: guide to reporting". Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  32. ^ "Bhalswa landfill site major factor of air pollution: Jain". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 5 November 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  33. ^ "Stubble burning begins: Hold your breath Delhiites, that deadly smog is coming". 9 October 2017.
  34. ^ a b HARRIS, GARDINER (29 May 2015). "Holding Your Breath in India". SundayReview, New York Times. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  35. ^ "Lockdown in India has Halved Smog and Increased Solar Power". Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  36. ^ Sweta Goswami (7 November 2017). "Delhi's worst smog yet wakes up govt, emergency measures announced". Hindustan Times.
  37. ^ Express Web Desk (2 November 2017). "Delhi wakes up to hazardous pollution levels, reduced visibility due to smog". Indian Express.
  38. ^ a b PTI (8 November 2017). "Delhi pollution: Government issues health advisory as smog chokes city". Hindustan Times.
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  42. ^ "Pollution stops play at Delhi test match as bowlers struggle to breathe".
  43. ^ "India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd Test: 'Angry' Ravi Shastri Marched on to the Field. Twitter Trolled Him | Cricket News".
  44. ^ TNN (6 November 2016). "Air pollution: Delhi shuts schools, bans construction work". Times of India.
  45. ^ Press Trust of India (8 October 2020). "Delhi Gets "Green War Room" To Bring Down Pollution Levels This Winter". NDTV.com. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  46. ^ Yeung, Jessie; Mitra, Esha; Sud, Vedika (21 October 2020). "India's pollution season could serve a double blow during Covid-19". CNN. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  47. ^ "Supreme Court bans sale of firecrackers in Delhi, NCR". Times of India. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  48. ^ Goswami, Sweta (5 October 2018). "Badarpur thermal plant,Delhi's biggest power generator, to shut down from October 15". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  49. ^ Shrangi, Vatsala (16 October 2018). "Badarpur power plant shut, action plan to tackle air pollution in Delhi-NCR comes into force". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  50. ^ Nihar (27 October 2020). "Air pollution: Centre issues ordinance to form new commission to replace EPCA". hindustantimes.com. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  51. ^ "Monitoring Stations". System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune. Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt.of India. 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  52. ^ US Embassy (30 May 2015). "Air Quality Data". New Delhi, India: usembassy. Archived from the original on 11 June 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  53. ^ a b Safi, Michael (3 December 2017). "Pollution stops play at Delhi Test match as bowlers struggle to breathe". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  54. ^ "Sehwag slams SL players for complaining about smog". Daily Mirror - Sri Lanka. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  55. ^ "Mohammed Shami vomiting, tests in Sri Lanka camp add to pollution debate in Delhi". Hindustan Times. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  56. ^ "India vs Sri Lanka: Mohammed Shami pukes at Feroz Shah Kotla". The Indian Express. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  57. ^ Hartman, F. C.; LaMuraglia, G. M.; Tomozawa, Y.; Wolfenden, R. (2 December 1975). "The influence of pH on the interaction of inhibitors with triosephosphate isomerase and determination of the pKa of the active-site carboxyl group". Biochemistry. 14 (24): 5274–5279. doi:10.1021/bi00695a007. ISSN 0006-2960. PMID 47.

Further reading

  • Cherni, Judith A. Economic Growth versus the Environment: The Politics of Wealth, Health and Air Pollution (2002) online
  • Currie, Donya. "WHO: Air Pollution a Continuing Health Threat in World's Cities," The Nation's Health (February 2012) 42#1 online
  • Amann, M., Purohit, P., Bertok, I., Bhandarkar, A.D., Borken‐Kleefeld, J., Cofala, J., Harshvardhan, B., Heyes, C., Kiesewetter, G., Klimont, Z., Jun, L., Majumdar, D., Ngyuen, B., Rafaj, P., Rao., P.S., Sander, R., Schöpp, W., Shrivastava, A. 2017. Managing future air quality in megacities: A case study for Delhi. Atmospheric Environment, 161: 99–111. [1]
  • Bhandarkar, A.D., Purohit, P., Rafaj, P., Amann, M. et al. 2018. Managing future air quality in megacities: Co-benefit assessment for Delhi, Atmospheric Environment, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2018.05.026

External links


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