Mumbai’s air pollution triggers rise in respiratory illnesses

This December Mumbai has consistently recorded concentrations of PM25 mdash considered the worst pollutant mdashhigher than Indiarsquos National Ambient Air Quality Standards NAAQS especially in Bandra Kurla Complex BKC Byculla and Mazagaon Chakala in Andheri East Deonar Ghatkopar Kherwadi in Bandra East Khindipada in Bhandup and Malad according to data available from continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations CAAQMS registered with the Central Pollution Control Boardmidday assessed data for PM25 concentrations in Mumbais air for the first two weeks of December Every day the average concentration of PM25 was higher than 60 microgmsup3 micrograms per cubic metre ranging to an average of over 100microgmsup3 Hotspots such as BKC Kherwadi and Byculla have recorded maximum PM25 levels exceeding 200microgmsup3Why is it importantWhile the overall Air Quality Index AQI of Mumbai is noted to have improved this winter in comparison to 2023 and 2022 Mumbaikars have continued to experience the adverse impacts of bad air quality leading to respiratory problems ranging from sore throat to respiratory infections increased asthmatic symptoms and fatigueDadar railway station is engulfed in smog on December 17 PICSAYYED SAMEER ABEDIPM25 is considered the worst pollutant These are tiny particles that human beings can inhale They settle deep in lungs They can enter the bloodstream causing longterm heart problems and even stroke In contrast PM10 is not a pollutant that can immediately be inhaled and leads to other problems such as irritation to the eyes damaging skin and hairWhile according to NAAQS levels up to 60 microgmsup3 are acceptable according to the World Health Organisation WHO acceptable levels of PM25 are at an annual average of 5 microgmsup3 and a 24hour average of 15 microgmHealth impactsManoj Kumar analyst from Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air CREA said ldquoThere is a huge amount of evidence to show that PM25 is the most harmful pollutant for humans In fact to date researchers have not been able to find a threshold for safe lsquoconsumptionrsquo of it This is to say no value has been determined where PM25 is safe to breatherdquoAccording to health experts PM25 is considered so bad that it can give nonsmokers an illness associated with smokers Harish Chafle a senior pulmonologist and critical care specialist said that according to a study by the Chest Research Foundation Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD is more common among nonsmokers than among smokers in IndiaChafle said ldquoIf we consider AQI and lung health PM25 is a crucial component If PM25 is high lung health is going to be bad even if the AQI is great This can cause longterm problems If you see the larger picture of air pollutants causing health problems it will be helpful to take PM25 as an important subset of AQI It is not just about AQI In addition to causing lung problems causes other larger health problems such as heart diseases and stroke including COPD which in laymanrsquos terms is called smokerrsquos lungs Nonsmokers have it these days due to breathing ambient airrdquoBrief history of methodologyIndiarsquos AQI was launched in October 2014 giving it its number formula and colour description It was done to enable the common man to judge the AQI in their vicinity through a laymanrsquos lens According to a statement made by Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change at the time an effort had been made to include a comprehensive set of parameters While the earlier measuring index was limited to three indicators the current measurement index has been made quite comprehensive by the addition of five additional parameters In 2019 the National Clean Air Programme sought to revise the threshold for PM25 concentrations to keep up with presentday requirements but it is yet to be implementedHow does India calculate AQIEight major pollutants are taken into account particulate matter PM 10 and PM 25 carbon monoxide CO ozone O3 nitrogen dioxide NO2 sulfur dioxide SO2 ammonia NH3 and lead Pb To calculate AQI data for a minimum of three pollutants must be present of which one should be either PM10 or PM25Green dayMumbai recorded its first green AQI day of December on Sunday with an AQI of 90 in the lsquosatisfactoryrsquo category From December 1 to 20 Saturday Mumbai recorded AQI numbers in the yellow of the lsquomoderatersquo category with December 4 and 18 recording the highest reading 138 On none of these days was PM25 the primary pollutant despite heavy concentrations of the same in the air Ozone and NO2 were the worst pollutants on all daysTop areas with high concentrations of PM25gtgt Bandra Kurla Complexgtgt Byculla and Mazagaongtgt Chakala in Andherigtgt Deonar gtgt Ghatkopargtgt Kherwadi in Bandragtgt Khindipada in BhandupAreas with low concentrations of PM25gtgt Powaigtgt Sewrigtgt Sion90AQI of Mumbai on Sunday