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Air pollution remains a critical global challenge, severely affecting the health of millions worldwide. In a significant stride towards addressing this pressing issue, researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur have published groundbreaking research in the esteemed Nature Communications journal. This study elucidates the sources and composition of particulate matter (PM) in Northern India, highlighting their detrimental health impacts.
Dr. Deepika Bhattu, Associate Professor and lead author of the study, emphasized a pivotal revelation: merely reducing overall PM mass is insufficient to mitigate health impacts. Instead, the study underscores the necessity of targeting local inefficient combustion processes, such as biomass and fossil fuel burning, including traffic exhaust, to effectively diminish PM-related health risks in Northern India.
The study addresses three critical scientific questions, providing valuable insights for Indian policymakers as they devise data-driven, effective mitigation strategies under the ongoing National Clean Air Programme (NCAP):
- Fine PM (PM2.5) Source Identification and Contributions: The research offers unprecedented clarity on the geographical origins of PM2.5, distinguishing between local and regional sources.
- Distinction Between Directly Emitted PM and Atmospheric Formation: For the first time, a comprehensive distinction is made between PM directly emitted and those formed in the atmosphere, across a large spatial and temporal scale.
- Correlation of PM Harmfulness with Oxidative Potential: The study correlates the oxidative potential of PM with local and regional sources, identifying the primary contributors to PM-associated health effects.
Utilizing advanced aerosol mass spectrometry techniques and data analytics, the research was conducted at five Indo-Gangetic Plain sites, both within and outside Delhi. The findings reveal that although high PM concentrations are uniform across the region, the chemical composition varies significantly due to local emission sources and formation processes. In Delhi, ammonium chloride and organic aerosols from traffic exhaust, residential heating, and fossil fuel oxidation products dominate PM pollution. Outside Delhi, ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, and secondary organic aerosols from biomass burning vapors are the primary contributors.
However, irrespective of location, the study highlights that organic aerosols from incomplete combustion of biomass and fossil fuels, including traffic emissions, are the main contributors to the PM oxidative potential, driving PM-associated health effects in the region.
Comparative analysis of the oxidative potential of Indian PM2.5 with other regions across Asia-Pacific and Europe reveals alarming findings. The oxidative potential of Indian PM surpasses that of Chinese and European cities by up to fivefold, marking it as one of the highest globally.
Dr. Deepika Bhattu emphasizes that addressing India’s air pollution crisis necessitates collaboration among local communities and stakeholders, alongside societal changes, particularly in densely populated urban areas like Delhi. Sustainable efforts are crucial, promoting cleaner energy sources, improving combustion efficiency, reducing emissions from transportation, and removing unauthorized, outdated, and inefficient vehicles.
“Our study provides valuable insights for evidence-based policies and interventions aimed at safeguarding public health and the environment for future generations,” says Dr. Bhattu. “Prioritizing mitigation strategies based on the most significant health impacts, particularly targeting local inefficient combustion processes, is essential in Northern India.”
This pioneering research by IIT Jodhpur paves the way for more targeted and effective air quality management strategies, offering hope for a healthier future.
