PARTICULATE MATTER, also known as particle pollution or PM, is a term that describes extremely small solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in air. Particulate matter can be made of a variety of components including nitrates, sulphates, organic chemicals, metals, soil or dust particles, and allergens (such as fragments of pollen or mould spores). Particle pollution mainly comes from motor vehicles, wood burning, heaters and industry. During bushfires or dust storms, particle pollution can reach extremely high concentrations.
The size of particles affects their potential to cause health problems:
- PM10 (particles with diameter of 10 micrometers or less)- these particles are small enough to pass through the throat and nose and enter lungs. Once inhaled, these particles can affect the heart and lungs and cause serious health effects.
- 5 (particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less)- These particles are so small they can get into the lungs and into bloodstream. There is sufficient evidence that exposure to PM2.5 over long periods (years) can cause adverse health effects. Note that PM10 includes PM2.5.
Potential health effects from exposure to particulate matter:
There are many health effects from exposure to particulate matter. There have been enough studies carried out throughout the world that exposure to particulate matter leads to lungs and heart disease, which can lead to even death.
There are short-term and long-term exposures on human body. Short term exposure can increase the existing disease, and long term exposure most likely causes disease and increase the rate of progression.
Short-term exposure (hours to days) can lead to :
- Irritated eyes, nose and throat.
- Worsening asthma and lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis ( also called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD)
- Heart attacks and arrhythmias (irregular heart beat) in people with heart disease.
- Increases in hospital admissions and premature death due to disease of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.
Long-term exposure (many years) can lead to :
- Reduced lung functions
- Development of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
- Increased rate of disease progression
- Reduction in life-expectancy
India launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2019 with a target to reduce the particulate pollution by 20-30 percent by 2024, using 2017 as base year. The target was revised to 40 percent reduction by 2026, using 2019-20 as base the base year.
95 percent of the 131 cities covered under the NCAP have shown an improvement in air quality, with 21 reducing PM10 pollution by more than 40 percent compared to 2017-18 levels, as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. The CPCB also indicated that only 18 of 131 NCAP cities adhered to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM10, set at 60 micrograms per cubic meter.
The 21 cities and urban agglomerations that achieved more than 40% reduction in PM10 pollution are, Varanasi, Dhanbad, Burnihat, Bareilly, Firozabad, Dehradun, Tutricorin, Nalagarh, Moradabad, Khurja, Trichy, Kohima, Lucknow, Kanpur, Kadapa, Sivasagar, Sunder Nagar, Agra, Greater Mumbai, Rishikesh and Parwanoo.
Fourteen cities- Ahmedabad, Ghaziabad, Rajkot, Jalandhar, Raibareli, Amritsar, Kolkata, Jammu, Silchar, Vijaywada, Naya Nangal, Dimapur, Baddi and Jodhpur-reduced PM10 pollution by 30-40 percent. Compared to 2017-18 levels.
Khanna, Durgapur, Kurnool, Dera Baba Nanak, Vadodara, Allahabad, Hyderabad, Gorakhpur, Ranchi, Bengaluru, Surat and Noida recorded a 20-30 percent reduction in PM10 levels during the same period.
A 10-20 percent reduction in PM10 pollution level was recorded in 21 cities- Delhi, Howrah, Thane, Latur, Nellore, Gajraula, Alwar, Chittur, Kala Amb, Mandi Gobindgarh, Amravati, Patiala, Jaipur, Ongole, Chandrapur, Nashik, Jhansi, Sangli, Kota, Devangere and Rajahmindry.
The above mentioned cities have been cited for significant improvements in air quality ( with base figures of 2017-18) through various best practices to reduce air pollution. Key activities included paving roads, promoting mechanical sweeping, bioremediation of legacy waste, solid waste management, converting reclaimed land from dump sites into green spaces, greenbelt development, intelligent traffic management systems, and Miyawaki afforestation.
(The Miyawaki afforestation method requires quite a small space, at least 20 sq feet. One must seed plants very close to save space and dense plant growth. This will also allow young trees to protect each other and block sunlight from hitting the forest’s ground, preventing parasitic plant growth)
I live in Mumbai, and this city has reduced PM10 level pollution by more than 40%. Mumbai is still considered as polluted city, can you imagine the level of PM10 levels prior to time, when NCAP was launched in the country.
Still a long way to go.
Waiting for your feedback on this blog
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
9th September 2024