PM 2.5 Pollution

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Context:

Favourable meteorological conditions  contributed to a dip in particulate pollution (PM2.5) in India between 2021 and 2022, thus adding one year to India’s average life expectancy, according to a new study.

Details

Key Findings

• World Health Organization (WHO)'s pollution guidelines would increase Delhi residents' life expectancy by 7.8 years.
• Favourable meteorological conditions, such as above-normal rainfall, contributed to a dip in particulate pollution (PM2.5) in India between 2021 and 2022, thus adding one year to India’s average life expectancy.
• Despite the slight decline in 5 pollution, 42.6 per cent of the country’s population lived in areas that exceeded the national ambient air quality standard of 40 micrograms/cubic metre (ug/m3).
• The highest declines in particulate pollution in 2022 were observed in the Purulia and Bankura districts in West Bengal and the Dhanbad district in Jharkhand, with pollution concentrations declining by more than 20 ug/m³ in all three districts.
• Particulate pollution takes 6 years off the life of the average Indian resident.

Particulate  matters 

• PM stands for particulate matter (also called particle pollution): the term for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air.

Particle pollution includes:

• PM₁₀ : inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 10 micrometers and smaller.
• PM₅: fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller.

The relative sizes of PM10 and PM2.5 particles are:

What is the Difference Between PM10 and PM2.5?

• PM10 and PM2.5 often derive from different emissions sources, and also have different chemical compositions.
• Emissions from combustion of gasoline, oil, diesel fuel or wood produce much of the 5 pollution found in outdoor air, as well as a significant proportion of PM10.
• PM10 also includes dust from construction sites, landfills and agriculture, wildfires and brush/waste burning, industrial sources, wind-blown dust from open lands, pollen and fragments of bacteria.

Sources of PM

• PM may be either directly emitted from sources (primary particles) or formed in the atmosphere through chemical reactions of gases (secondary particles) such as sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOX), and certain organic compounds.
• These organic compounds can be emitted by both natural sources, such as trees and vegetation, as well as from man-made (anthropogenic) sources, such as industrial processes and motor vehicle exhaust.

Harmful Effects of PM

Health impact

• Respiratory problems: Fine particles like PM2.5, can be inhaled deep into the respiratory system lead to respiratory issues such as coughing, wheezing, aggravated asthma, bronchitis, and reduced lung function.
• Cardiovascular effects:PM has been linked to heart problems, including heart attacks, irregular heartbeats, and increased blood pressure.
• Lung cancer:Long-term exposure to PM, especially PM2.5, is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer.
• Reduced life expectancy: Reduced life expectancy, primarily due to the increased risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
• Aggravation of pre-existing conditions:Individuals with respiratory diseases (e.g., asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or cardiovascular conditions are more vulnerable to the adverse effects of PM.
• Children and the elderly:Children and the elderly are at higher risk due to developing respiratory systems in children and weaker immune systems in the elderly.
• Reduced lung growth in children: Prolonged exposure to high levels of PM can hinder lung development in children, potentially leading to long-term health problems.
• Cognitive effects:Emerging research suggests that air pollution, including PM, may have cognitive effects, potentially affecting neurological health.

Environment impact

• PM, primarily PM2.5, affects visibility by altering the way light is absorbed and scattered in the atmosphere.
• With reference to climate change, some constituents of the ambient PM mixture promote climate warming (e.g., black carbon), while others have a cooling influence (e.g., nitrate and sulfate), and so ambient PM has both climate warming and cooling properties.
• PM can adversely affect plants, soil and water through deposition of PM.
• The metal and organic compounds in PM have the greatest potential to alter plant growth and yield.

Steps taken for improvement of air quality

• National Clean Air Programme: To achieve reduction in PM10 level up to 40% or achievement of national standards (60 µg/m3) by 2025-26 from the base line 2017.
• City Action Plans (CAPs): It have been prepared by all 131 cities and being implemented by Urban Local Bodies.
• CAPs is being mobilised through convergence of resources from various schemes of Central Government such as Swachh Bharat Mission SBM (Urban), Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Smart City Mission, Sustainable Alternative towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT), Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME-II), Nagar Van Yojna.

Control of vehicular emissions:

• Introduction of BS VI compliant vehiclesacross the country since April, 2020.
• Electric Vehicles in India (FAME -II India)
• Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT)has been launched as an initiative to set up Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) production plants and make CBG available in the market for use in automotive fuels.

Control of industrial emission:

Ban on use of pet coke and furnace oilas fuel in NCR States since 2017 and ban on use of imported pet coke in the country since 2018, with exception for use in permitted processes.

Control of emissions from Stubble Burning:

• Subsidy for purchase of crop residue management machinery and establishment of custom hiring centres (CHCs) in NCT of Delhi and the States of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
• Establishment of Paddy straw based pelletization and Torrefaction plants..

Air Quality Monitoring and Network

• National Air Quality Index (AQI)was launched in 2015. Information is being disseminated to public through daily air quality bulletins.
• Ambient Air Quality Network: The country has a network of 1447 ambient air quality monitoring stations (516 continuous and 931 manual) covering 516 cities in 28 states and 7 UTs.

More: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/pm-25-pollution

Source

https://www.indiatoday.in/health/story/air-pollution-how-bad-is-particulate-matter-for-your-health-2453501-2023-10-25

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1983680#:~:text=National%20Clean%20Air%20Programme%3A&text=Target%20has%20been%20revised%20to,implemented%20by%20Urban%20Local%20Bodies.

https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/inhalable-particulate-matter-and-health

PRACTICE QUESTION Q. What is Particulate Matter 2.0 and 2.10? Discuss about the effect of these matters and about the steps taken by Government of India to reduce it. 150 words