0
0
A recent study published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal has shed light on the alarming impact of PM2.5 air pollution on public health in India. According to the findings, an average of 7.2% of all daily deaths in ten of India’s largest and most polluted cities can be attributed to PM2.5 levels exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for safe exposure.
Cities such as Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai were among those studied, with Delhi showing the highest proportion of daily and yearly deaths linked to PM2.5 pollution. PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter, commonly emitted from vehicles and industrial sources.
Researchers from Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi and the Centre for Chronic Disease Control in New Delhi collaborated on the study, analyzing data from 2008 to 2019. They found that even short-term exposure to increased PM2.5 levels significantly raised the risk of daily mortality. Specifically, a 10 microgram per cubic metre increase in PM2.5 over two days was associated with a 1.4% rise in daily mortality rates.
The study also highlighted disparities between Indian and WHO air quality standards. While Indian standards allow higher PM2.5 levels (60 micrograms per cubic metre over 24 hours) compared to WHO guidelines (15 micrograms per cubic metre), the health impacts remain severe. In cities like Bengaluru, a 10 microgram per cubic metre increase in PM2.5 was linked to a staggering 3.06% rise in daily mortality.
Moreover, the research underscored the stronger causal relationship between daily PM2.5 exposure and locally generated pollutants in cities with lower baseline pollution levels, such as Chennai and Shimla. This suggests that efforts to reduce local emissions could significantly mitigate the health risks associated with PM2.5 pollution.
The authors emphasized the urgent need for stringent air quality management and policies to protect public health in India’s urban centers. With PM2.5 pollution posing a substantial health threat across the country, addressing the sources of these pollutants is crucial to preventing needless deaths linked to poor air quality.
The study marks a critical step in understanding the health impacts of air pollution in India and provides valuable insights for policymakers striving to improve air quality standards and protect public health nationwide.
