IIT Jodhpur Research Provides New Insights into Air Pollution and Health Impact in Northern India

 A researcher from IIT Jodhpur has published a study in Nature Communications, revealing the sources and composition of harmful particulate matter (PM) in Northern India. Know details here 

A researcher from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur has published groundbreaking research in Nature Communications, illuminating the sources and composition of harmful particulate matter (PM) in Northern India. The study offers valuable insights for developing evidence-based policies and interventions to protect public health and the environment for future generations. It emphasizes the importance of prioritizing mitigation strategies that address the most significant health impacts, particularly by targeting inefficient local combustion processes in Northern India.

The study address three key scientific questions that Indian policymakers must consider to develop data-driven and effective mitigation strategies as part of the ongoing National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).

• Fine PM (PM2.5) source identification and their absolute contribution, with unprecedented clarity between their local and regional geographical origin.
• A comprehensive and unequivocal distinction between directly emitted PM and those formed in the atmosphere. This is the first time such a distinction is clearly made over a large spatial and temporal scale.
• Determination of the harmfulness of PM by correlating its oxidative potential with local and regional sources within the study region.

Contrary to the common belief that reducing overall PM mass would alleviate health impacts, this comprehensive study highlights the importance of addressing local inefficient combustion processes - such as biomass and fossil fuel burning, including traffic exhaust in effectively reducing PM-related health exposure and their associated impacts in Northern India - says Dr. Deepika Bhattu, Associate Professor and lead author of the article.

Utilising advanced aerosol mass spectrometry techniques and data analytics, the study was conducted at five Indo-Gangetic Plain sites, both inside and outside Delhi. It found that while PM concentrations are uniformly high across the region, the chemical composition varies significantly due to the dominance of local emission sources and formation processes. In Delhi, PM pollution is primarily composed of ammonium chloride and organic aerosols, which originate directly from traffic exhaust, residential heating, and the oxidation products of fossil fuel emissions in the atmosphere.

In contrast, outside Delhi, ammonium sulphate and ammonium nitrate, as well as secondary organic aerosols from biomass burning vapours, are the dominant contributors. However, regardless of location, the study highlighted that organic aerosols from incomplete combustion of biomass and fossil fuels, including traffic emissions, are the key contributors to the PM oxidative potential, which drives PM-associated health effects in this region.

Addressing India's air pollution crisis requires collaboration among local communities and stakeholders as well as societal changes, especially in densely populated urban areas like Delhi, Dr. Deepika Bhattu emphasizes. Moving forward, concerted sustainable efforts are needed that promote cleaner energy sources, improve combustion efficiency and reduce emissions from transportation mainly from outdated, overloaded and inefficient vehicles fleets and remove unauthorised jugaad vehicles.

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