Reports

Study Reveals Major Sources of Air Pollution in Northern India, Urges Targeted Interventions

Published in Nature Communications, the study underscores the critical role of local emissions, particularly from incomplete combustion of various fuels, in exacerbating poor air quality and associated health risks in the region.

• By PharmaNews Live Desk
• New Delhi
• May 01, 2024

Reports

New research led by Prof. Sachchida Nand Tripathi from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K), sheds light on the significant sources of harmful air pollutants and their impact on human health in Northern India.

Published in Nature Communications, the study underscores the critical role of local emissions, particularly from incomplete combustion of various fuels, in exacerbating poor air quality and associated health risks in the region. “Identifying the exact sources and their contributions to air pollution in India has been a challenge,” explains Prof. Tripathi.

Collaborating with national and international researchers, his team analyzed air quality data from five locations across the Indo-Gangetic Plain, including sites in and around Delhi, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the issue.

The study reveals that local sources and processes are the primary drivers of widespread air pollution across the region. In Delhi, ammonium chloride and organic aerosols from traffic, residential heating, and industrial activities emerge as key contributors.

Outside the capital, emissions from agricultural burning and secondary organic aerosols formed from these emissions take precedence. The incomplete burning of fuels like wood, dung, coal, and petrol compounds the problem, generating harmful particles that pose risks to respiratory health and overall well-being.

Regardless of location, organic aerosols from incomplete combustion of biomass and fossil fuels emerge as the major factor driving air pollution’s oxidative potential – a key indicator of its ability to cause adverse health effects.

Prof. Tripathi emphasizes, “The oxidative potential measures the likelihood of air pollution causing damage by generating free radicals that react with cells, proteins, and DNA, leading to respiratory diseases, heart problems, and accelerated ageing. Urgent action is needed to address this issue and reduce emissions through targeted interventions to improve combustion efficiency across various sectors.”

Northern India, particularly the Indo-Gangetic Plain, faces severe air pollution challenges, with cities like Delhi often experiencing hazardous levels of particulate matter and other pollutants. Factors such as vehicle emissions, industrial activities, construction dust, agricultural burning, and meteorological conditions contribute to the region’s poor air quality. Despite government efforts to mitigate pollution, including measures like vehicle restrictions and industrial regulations, addressing this complex issue requires coordinated action at various levels of governance and society.