Mumbai Air Pollution: Factors, Impact, and Future Concerns.

PWOnlyIAS October 19, 2023 06:06 3702 0

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Context: Recently, the Mumbai Air Pollution reached to ‘very poor’ category in the National Air Quality Index.

Mumbai Air Pollution: Factors, Impact, and Future Concerns.

Understanding Mumbai Air Pollution Challenges Amidst Development and Climate Shifts

Particulate Matter: According to SAFAR, Mumbai Air Pollution PM10 level raised to 143 as against 122 in Delhi.
Reasons for Mumbai Air Pollution:
- Developmental Works: The increase in PM 10 levels in the city has been attributed to development projects such as the metro, which causes dust pollution.
- Wind Stagnancy: Due to anti-cyclonic circulation over Mumbai, the winds are not ascending, leading to accumulation of dust particles and affecting the Mumbai Air Quality.
- Moisture: The presence of moisture in the city’s atmosphere traps dust and other PM 10 particles, thus causing deterioration of Mumbai air quality.
- Heavy Traffic: Heavy traffic in the city limits is contributing to higher levels of pollutants in the air.
- Climate change: Due to climate change, the pattern of natural cleansing mechanism from sea winds has been affected, leading to accumulation of dust particles.
Consequences of Environmental Contamination: Highlighting Mumbai Air Pollution
- Railway Services Hampered: Foggy weather caused by air pollution has affected Mumbai’s train services.
- Respiratory Illness: There has been an increase in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and bronchitis due to decrease in Mumbai air quality.
Mumbai Climate: The city is also reeling under the ‘October Heat’ phenomenon with maximum temperature of 36.4 degree celsius.
Low Pressure: A low pressure area is set to develop over Mumbai and surrounding areas, which could intensify into cyclonic depression.

Also Read: Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) Report

Assessing Mumbai’s Air Quality: Understanding the National Air Quality Index (NAQI)

Mumbai Air Quality

National Air Quality Index is a measurement of Pollution of air in a given area. The index makes use of colour code to determine the air quality within a given area.
- Introduction: The Government of India introduced the National Air Quality Index in New Delhi in September 2014 as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
- Authority: Central Pollution Control Board gives the Air Quality Index in form of National Air Quality Index (NAQI), which is a 24-hr average.
- Categories: Currently, AQI is given under six categories, namely Good, Satisfactory, Moderately polluted, Poor, Very Poor, and Severe.
- Pollutants Considered: AQI will use PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3, and Pb pollutants for determining air quality.
Significance of National Air Quality Index
- Pollution of Air: NAQI demarcates safer areas in terms of quality of air for people to travel.
- Health Impacts: The NAQI identifies the potential health impact of pollutants in the air.
- Awareness Creation: NAQI creates awareness about the importance of air quality in cities.

Impacts of Deteriorating Air Quality in Mumbai: A Closer Look at Health, Environment, and Beyond

Breathing Problems: Continuous exposure to poor quality air can lead to development of bronchitis. It can cause cough, breathlessness, and wheezing in people.
Chronic Diseases: Poor Mumbai air Pollution has potential to cause heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer. This will reduce the lifespan of the population.
Vulnerable Sections: The elderly, young people, and also those who venture out when the quality of the air is the worst are most likely to be affected.
Growth of Babies: Epidemiological studies have shown that exposure to poor air Pollution can hamper natural growth of babies.
- Poor Mumbai Air Quality impact on baby: Mumbai, being one of the most populous and industrially active cities in India, often grapples with significant air pollution levels.
Vegetation Growth: Studies have shown that poor quality of air can damage crops and trees in a variety of ways. This will affect growth of greenery and also food security.
Water Pollution: Nitrogen oxides emitted from power plants, cars, trucks, and other sources contribute to the amount of nitrogen entering aquatic ecosystems. This causes eutrophication.
Air Traffic: Air pollutants react with sunlight to produce haze. This haze affects visibility of aircrafts, thus disrupting their operation.

Improving Mumbai Air Quality: Comprehensive Strategies and Initiatives for Cleaner Skies

Fogging Machines: These machines can be used to spray water in the skies, causing dust particles to settle down.
Enhancing Mumbai Air Pollution – Covering Construction Area: The construction area can be covered to prevent dust from escaping into the atmosphere.
Green Vehicles: Vehicles run on CNG and electricity can replace fossil fuel vehicles to prevent emission.
Green Cover: Increasing green cover has shown to reduce PM 10 and PM 2.5 particles in the atmosphere.
Scrubber Systems: Scrubber systems can be installed in industries to absorb harmful particles from the gasses of industrial exhaust.
Public Transport Promotion: Authorities must promote public transport in urban areas to reduce vehicular emissions.
Control Landfill Fires: Solid waste burning contributes to air pollution. The major reason is landfill fires, which has the potential to drastically affect Mumbai air quality.
Farm Fire Control: Measures have been taken in areas susceptible to stubble burning. Machines such as happy seeders have been introduced to reduce incidents of stubble burning.

Mumbai Air Quality

Monitoring Mumbai’s Air Pollution: The Role of SAFAR in Providing Real-Time Data and Forecasts

SAFAR is an air Pollution monitoring system introduced by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
Aim: To provide location specific information on air Pollution in near real time, giving forecasts up to 3 days in India.
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, along with India Meteorological Department (IMD) and National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) have jointly developed SAFAR.

Conclusion:

The air Pollution in a particular area determines pollution standards. Urgent and concerted efforts are imperative to mitigate Mumbai air quality, through a combination of robust monitoring with systems like SAFAR and implementation of comprehensive strategies, promoting green practices, and controlling industrial and vehicular emissions, ensuring a sustainable and healthier future for the city’s residents. Maintaining a low pollution level is the key for a good health of the country’s population.

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Mumbai Air Pollution FAQs

Rise in pollution levels in the city has been attributed to development projects such as metro, increase in traffic, climate change etc.

National Air Quality Index is a measurement of quality of air in a given area. The index makes use of colour code to determine the air quality within a given area.

The Central Pollution Control Board gives the Air Quality Index in form of National Air Quality Index (NAQI), which is a 24-hr average.

The National Air Quality Index will use PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3, and Pb pollutants for determining air quality.

The National Air Quality Index is operational across the cities of New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, and Ahmedabad.

SAFAR is an air quality monitoring system introduced by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). It aims to provide location specific information on air quality in near real time, giving forecast upto 3 days in India.

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Mumbai Air Pollution: Factors, Impact, and Future Concerns.

Understanding Mumbai Air Pollution Challenges Amidst Development and Climate Shifts

Assessing Mumbai’s Air Quality: Understanding the National Air Quality Index (NAQI)

Impacts of Deteriorating Air Quality in Mumbai: A Closer Look at Health, Environment, and Beyond

Improving Mumbai Air Quality: Comprehensive Strategies and Initiatives for Cleaner Skies

Monitoring Mumbai’s Air Pollution: The Role of SAFAR in Providing Real-Time Data and Forecasts

Conclusion:

Mumbai Air Pollution FAQs

What are the reasons behind Mumbai air quality degradation?

What is the National Air Quality Index?

Who developed the National Air Quality Index?

Which Pollutants are used in Calculating National Air Quality Index?

National Air Quality Index is Operational in Which Cities?

What is SAFAR?

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