Indoor air pollution was linked to over 1.24 lakh deaths across India every year since 2015, a report published in Lancet – a noted medical journal – has stated. This count was higher than deaths caused by pollution emanating from coal power plants (accounting for 80,368 fatalities) and other industries (95,800 fatalities).
Fine pollutants measuring 2.5 microns or less are emitted in all the three cases.
As the world gears up for the next round of climate negotiations at Bonn in Germany, starting November 6, Lancet on Tuesday released a report highlighting the impact of climate change on people. The factors under discussion ranged from temperature-related illnesses and worsening air quality to frequent climactic disasters and changes in disease patterns.The report focuses on the need for climate policies that also curb air pollution, considering that many sources of greenhouse gas emissions – such as thermal power plants – also affect air quality.
“Increased access to clean fuels and clean energy technologies will have the dual benefit of reducing indoor air pollution exposure and cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions through the displacement of fossil fuels,” the report said.
Indoor air pollution causes 4.3 million preventable deaths linked to pneumonia, stroke, lung cancer, heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease every year. Household pollution in India (especially rural areas) is caused by the use of polluting fuel sources such as wood, charcoal and animal dung.Consequently, nearly 800 million people – mostly women – are exposed to disproportionately high levels of pollutants created through domestic practices.
“By working to deliver universal access to cleaner cooking fuels, India is taking a significant step towards addressing air quality issues and improving health, while continuing to serve as an example... that cooking no longer kills,” said Radha Muthiah, CEO of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, at a recent conference.
The World Meteorological Organisation’s Greenhouse Gas Bulletin has stated that carbon dioxide – the primary greenhouse gas – reached its highest-ever levels in 8,000 centuries last year.The level of emissions from fireworks fell by around 40 per cent during Diwali festivities this time as compared to 2016, according to the findings of a study which assume importance in the light of a region-wide ban on the sale of firecrackers by the Supreme Court.
The SAFAR study concluded that, as a whole, the Diwali period (October 18-22) was the cleanest since 2014. Level of particulates did shoot up a day after Diwali, but the dispersion was quicker and air quality attained the pre-Diwali level within three days.
SAFAR, a Central government air quality monitoring agency, based its findings on a detailed study of air quality, sources of emissions and meteorological conditions which prevailed in the national capital during this period.
As compared to emissions from fireworks in 2016, the dip was significant: 50% on October 19, the Diwali night; 25% on October 20, when pollution peaked and 45% on October 21, SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research) said in its report released on Sunday.But if less firecrackers were burnt, what explains the fact that air quality turned “severe” for the first time in 2017, a day after Diwali?
The amount of PM2.5, an ultrafine particulate measuring less than 20 times the width of a human hair, recorded by SAFAR during the period went like this: October 18 — 136, October 19 — 174, October 20 — 407, October 21 — 203 and October 22 — 139 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m3). The 24-hour safe standard is 60 (ug/m3).
SAFAR project director Gufran Beig explained that reduction in emissions from a particular source and reduction in levels of pollution are not linearly related or directly proportional.He said that “incredible” amount of fireworks, despite the relative reduction, on Diwali night led to trapping of smoke in the air and a rapid build-up of pollutants, especially between midnight and 4 am on October 20, aided by a fall in temperature and lowering of mixing height (where air and suspended particulates mix).
“Emissions slow down local wind movement as air becomes heavy. It’s like the heaviness in air one feels in a room when the number of occupants go up, say from five to 20. But subsequently, the air cleaned up faster this time due to warmer temperature and dry conditions.
“The ban on crackers certainly had an impact. The days that preceded and followed Diwali saw restraint from people. Usually, crackers are set off before and after the actual night of festivities as well. The real impact could be seen on October 20,” Beig told PTI.He said the post-Diwali air had also been good as compared to last year as the smoke from stubble burning regions in Punjab and Haryana had not reached Delhi because of the wind direction, which was not the case last year resulting in the worst smog episode that the city witnessed in nearly two decades.He said the post-Diwali air had also been good as compared to last year as the smoke from stubble burning regions in Punjab and Haryana had not reached Delhi because of the wind direction, which was not the case last year resulting in the worst smog episode that the city witnessed in nearly two decades.
External contributions, such as stubble burning, did not exceed 10% of the total pollution load during this period, the SAFAR report said.
The study factored in the observed meteorological data including wind speed, wind direction, satellite estimate of stubble burning emissions among other factors, it said.
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