Current Affairs 2022: World Air Quality Report

PM 2.5 has considerable consequences on human life, which include cardiovascular disease, respiratory sickness and early cause of death.

In 2021, air pollution continued to rise to dangerous levels, and New Delhi was named the world's most densely populated capital city for the fourth year in a row. This report highlighted nearly 35 Indian cities with the poorest air quality in the year 2021, with Bhiwadi in Rajasthan leading the top list, followed by Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh. The report has been released by IQ Air, a Swiss organisation for air quality technology. 

Details of the Report

The organisation has implemented ground-level monitoring stations to compare the level of PM 2.5 throughout the world in real-time. Only PM 2.5 monitoring stations with a high level of data availability were included in the study. It examined PM 2.5 particles in 106 countries in the year 2020.

These levels were more than 10-15 times higher than the WHO PM 2.5 guidelines of 0-5 µg/m3. The research is based on the PM 2.5 air quality data from 6,475 cities in 117 nations, regions and territories. 

Particulate Matter (PM 2.5)

Particulate matter with a width of 2.5 microns or less is considered PM 2.5. When these particles are inhaled, they are easily absorbed deep into the air circulation in the lungs due to their size. It has negative health consequences. As per IQ Air, PM 2.5 is the most dangerous pollutant in the air.

PM 2.5 has considerable consequences on human life, which include cardiovascular disease, respiratory sickness and early cause of death. PM 2.5 is created by a wide range of human-made sources, including fossil fuel-powered vehicles, energy generation, industrial operations and biomass burning.

Method for the Determination PM 2.5 Levels:

PM 2.5 or tiny particles with a diameter lesser than 2.5 microns, is one of the six frequently measured air pollutants. It is often considered the most hazardous to human life due to its widespread presence in the environment and causes a wide range of health impacts.

PM 2.5 is produced by a variety of sources and has a wide range of physical and chemical properties. Sulphates, nitrates, black carbon and ammonium are the most common chemical components of PM 2.5.

Internal combustion engines, generation of electricity, industrial activities, farming activities, and wood and coal burning are the most dangerous human-made sources of PM 2.5. Dust storms, sandstorms and wildfires are the most frequent natural causes of PM 2.5.

Poor Air Quality and its Effects

Air pollution is currently considered the world's most serious environmental health concern, responsible for seven million fatalities per year. Air pollution has a range of impacts on humans, varying from asthma to cancer and heart and lung disease.

The economic impact of polluted air is estimated to be USD 8 billion, or three to four per cent of the world GDP (GWP), where GWP is calculated by dividing the total world GDP by the combined Gross Domestic Product of all nations. The poorest people in the world are the most affected by air pollution. In 2021, it is anticipated that 40,000 children under the age of five would die as a result of PM 2.5 air pollution.

Additionally, during the COVID-19 times, scientists have observed that exposure to PM 2.5 increases the likelihood of developing the virus and the severity of symptoms including death if infected.

Air Pollution and Indian Scenario

In India, air pollution has a significant influence on human life. It is the second most common problem of sickness, and the impact of air pollution is estimated approximately to be more than USD 150 billion yearly. Vehicle emissions, electricity generation, industrial waste, biomass fuels for cooking, construction industry and periodic occurrences like crop burning are the biggest contributors to air pollution in India.n

The National Clean Air Program was adopted by Indian Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF and CC) in 2019. The initiative aims to minimise PM concentrations in all selected non-attainment cities by 20 per cent to 30 per cent by 2024.

­About the Author

Ponnila SM is pursuing MBA from the Thiagarajar School of Management. Writing is her passion, and she feels it allows her to explore different words and put them together to form meaningful sentences.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: The views expressed in this article are solely the author’s own and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha.