Context
A recent study (published in Journal Environment International) has found that the fine Particulate Matter (PM 2.5) led to 135 million premature deaths worldwide between 1980 and 2020.
About
- It is a term for a mixture of stable particles and liquid droplets observed in the air that are seen in many forms and sizes and can be made of masses of various chemical compounds.
- Some particles, known as first debris, are emitted immediately from a source, including production sites, unpaved roads, fields, smokestacks or fires.
- Others form in complicated reactions within the atmosphere of chemical substances consisting of sulphur dioxides and nitrogen oxides which can be emitted from power plants, industries and vehicles.
Size of Particulate Matters
- Particles which might be 10 micrometres in diameter or smaller since those are the debris that commonly bypass through the throat and nose and input the lungs.
- The size of particles is at once linked to their potential for causing health issues.
- PM10: inhalable debris, with diameters that are normally 10 micrometres and smaller.
- PM2.5: highly inhalable debris, with diameters which might be generally 2.5 micrometres and smaller.
PM2.5 and Health Impacts
- When inhaled, Particulate Matters can move a range of respiration issues. Continuous publicity to those can cause asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and any form of bronchitis.
- Particulate count can penetrate deep in the lungs and harm it.
- Any bacteria or virus can harm the lungs and this may even cause serious life-threatening infections.
- Particulate Matter can also cause chest tightening, watery eyes, sneezing, and runny nose.
Breakdown of Premature Deaths
- From 1980 to 2020, one third of premature deaths had been related to stroke (33.3%), every other third with ischemic coronary heart disorder (32.7%) and the closing deaths were due to persistent obstructive pulmonary ailment, reduced respiratory infections and lung cancer.
Geographical Disparity in Air Pollution-Related Deaths
- Asia is the most affected area, with an anticipated 98.1 million premature deaths attributed to PM2.5 pollutants between 1980 and 2020.
- China and India led with forty nine million and 26.1 million deaths, respectively.
- Other South Asian countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Japan additionally suffered extensive losses due to PM2.5 particles.
Indian Scenario
- India, with 18% of the world’s population, has a disproportionately high 26% of the global premature deaths and disease burden because of air pollutants.
- More than 23 lakh people died prematurely because of pollutants in India in 2019.
- Of them, 73% of deaths were caused due to air pollution, the biggest quantity of such deaths globally.
- In Delhi, the national capital, the range of deaths on account of PM2.5 was 106 out of 1,00,000 people in 2019, above the global average 58 per 1,00,000 humans.
Role of Climate Variability Phenomena
- The studies highlighted the role of climate variability phenomena like El Nino-Southern Oscillation, Indian Ocean Dipole and North Atlantic Oscillation in exacerbating PM2.5 pollution ranges, and collectively precipitated approximately 7,000 more premature deaths annually.
- The Indian Ocean Dipole had the largest impact on the range of deaths, followed by the North Atlantic Oscillation after which El Nino.
Effects of Climate Change on Human Health
- Changes in weather patterns can make air pollution worse.
- The consequences of climate change and the surroundings on human health are not lesser than those of genomics and way of life patterns and that they had been growing over the past decades.
Related Efforts By India
- National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): Launched in 2019 with goals to acquire 20% to 30% reduction in concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 by the year 2024, since 2017 as the base year for comparison of attention.
- Decarbonisation Efforts: A report indicates that decarbonising quicker can save India 200,000 deaths from particulate matter.
- The report analysed health impacts stemming from exposure to particulates to be counted under various policy pathways to meet Paris Agreement 2015 targets.
- Green Infrastructure: Cities are reimagining cityscapes with verdant green corridors and tree-lined boulevards, weaving greenery seamlessly into the urban cloth.
- Planting positive species can create a herbal air-purifying barrier, soaking up dangerous materials consisting of hydrocarbons and fragrant compounds.
- Vehicle Scrappage Policy: It aims to replace old cars with current and new motors on Indian roads, and is anticipated to lessen pollution, create job possibilities and boost demand for new automobiles.
- Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid) and Electric Vehicles (FAME) Scheme: It aims to lessen pollutants because of diesel and petrol-operated motors and to promote electric and hybrid automobiles in India.
- The FAME scheme II scheme has been prolonged for 2 years to power more adoption of the scheme.
Source: The DTE
UPSC Mains Practice Question
Q. Describe the key points of the revised Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) recently released by the World Health Organisation (WHO). How are these different from its last update in 2005? What changes in India’s National Clean Air Programme are required to achieve revised standards? (2021)
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