Health effects and control measures for poor air quality or air pollution

Effects

Health effects

The government of Delhi has declared a health advisory because of several health problems that are happening because of air pollution. Following are the few health problems that are happening because of air pollution are listed :-

• Breathlessness.
• Cheast constriction.
• Irritation in eyes.
• Asthma.
• Allergies.
• Coughing.
• Lung effects due to hugh amount of dust in air.
• Reducing the immune system of several children's and adults.

Control measures

• Banned of fire crackers.
• Due to heavy particulate matters released by bandrapur power plant, it is been permanently closed.
• Weekly water sprinkle on roads to reduce the dust.
• Vaccum cleaning of streets should be done.
• Use of diesel machinery should be reduced and instead use electrical machineries.
• New trees should be planted so to reduce the presence of Carbon dioxide in the air.

In recent time the was a mild rain shower in Delhi which shocked not only the people's but also the scientists, this mild rain shower caused the smog to appear again l, in the morning the pollution level was 447 and ITO sector was 486 proof of severe air pollution. This has to be controlled immediately otherwise there will be a major problems for the people living in Delhi.

This picture is of INA on that day and by seeing this we can say how the air pollution has grown overs the years and it really need to be changed.

We the people have to step forward for this change and we have to change, we will ✌️

We need support and it should come from all of us to change, it's either from today or never. It starts with one and then eventually grows.

The great smog

Smog is a ongoing severe air pollution event in Delhi and adjoining areas in the national capital territory of India. AirApollution in 2017 peaked on both PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels. It has been reported as one of the worst level of air quality in Delhi since 1999. 

Low visibility across the streets has resulted in accidents around the city, a 24 vehicle plie-up in the yamuna expressway.

"The great smog" also led to cancellation and delay of public transport, primarily trains and flights causing much hinderanc to the people.

Source of this "Great Smog"

Currently majority of analysis sources are hinting towards colder weather, stagnant winds trapping various sources of smoke. The primary source of somke are stubble burning, burning garbages, road dust, power plants, factories and emissions of smoke from vehicles. The air quality is been measured by PM 2.5 microns and PM 10 microns. On november 7th 2017, the PM 2.5 level in Delhi shot up to 999 which is awfully high and much high above the recommended level of 60 micrograms. Where as the PM 10 shots up to the level of 999 ( the max level on monitor), instead of the recommended limit of 100. On 8th november the PM 2.5 shots up to the level of 449 and PM 10 shots to 663.

This is where all the incident of "the great smog" started appearing.

Weather

The temperature during this period was over 15-29 degree Celsius ( like 66 degree fahrenheit). The weather is like dusty and sticky all around.

State reaction

A health emergency was declared in the capital by the central government of India to cope with the extrusive amiuam of polluted air. It was declared as a holiday for school, colleges, offices and other government centers.

In this blog there was a description of how and when it all started. Next blog will of the current status of how it is affecting the current situation in Delhi.

Thank you 😊.

Causes and effects of air pollution in Delhi

There are several causes of bad quality air in Delhi some of the reasons are listed:-

• Lack of active monitoring and reactions by authorities.
• Overpopulation.
• Motor vehicle emissions:- one of the main reasons of air pollution.
• Exhaust from diesel generators.
• Dust from construction sites.
• Burning of garbages.
• Agricultural stubble burning also affects air quality when the crops are being harvested.
• Although Delhi is kerosene free and 90% of the people uses LPG's but the rest uses garbage residuals, woods, crop residue, coal and cow dung for cooking which leads to pollution and bad contaminants in air.
• The drifts/ mist that is released in the air are one of the reasons for some particulate matters released by cooling towers of several industries in Noida.
• Last but not the least the badarpur thermal power plant, a coal fired power plant built in 1973. Despite of producing less than 8% electricity, it produces 80-90 % of particulate matters which was released in the air by the plant. In 2017 due to due to great smog in Delhi at november the plant is been closed temporarily but on October 2018 the plant was permanently close.

Particulate matter level in Delhi

Air quality or air pollution is represented by annual mean concentration of particulate matter PM10 ( particles smaller than 10 microns) and PM 2.5 ( smaller than 2.5 microns, about 25 to 100 times smaller than human hair.
As of October 2017, experts in deverse monitoring stations have reportedly measured that an air quality index (AQI) of 999. This has led to some Government offcials to call the nation's capital a gas chamber.
According to WHO safe PM air quality guidelines are 20μg/m^3 for PM10 and 10μg/m^3 for PM 2.5 (both are for annual mean).

Effects of air pollution in Delhi

1) Effects on children's :-

Around 2.2 million children in Delhi have irreversible lung damage due to poor quality of the air. In addition the research shows that this major air pollution is the reason for low immune system. This also results in increasing the risk of cancer, epilepsy, diabetes and even adult-onset disease like multiple sclerosis.

2) Effects on adults :-

Poor quality air is the causes of reduced lung capacity, headache, even severe breathing problems, asthma, cough, sore throat, fatigue, chest pain, allergies and even early death.

The above pictures shows the about the health impacts of air pollution.

Air quality index.

Air pollution in Delhi over the years.

Several health problems that can be caused due to major air pollution/ poor quality of air.

Next blog will be a detailed analysis the great smog in Delhi and it's effects and how it was formed.

Thank you 😊.

Delhi suffering from major air pollution and the causes of smog

Delhi is the capital of India. It was formed capital in the year 1911 and union territory in 1956. It is one of the industrial city and it consists of major industries. It is a massive metropolitan area in the country's north. Delhi, proper city has a population of over 11 million but when it comes to the whole NCT's population ( National Capital Territory), it is more likely to be of 16.8 million. Due to the major growth in industries the city is suffering from high level of air pollution.

Delhi air pollution

The air quality in Delhi, the capital of India, according to a WHO survey of 1600 world cities, is the worst of any major city in the world. Due to this most of the people are suffering from chronic respiratory diseases and asthma, according to WHO report. Due to poor quality of air most of the people are suffering from lung damages and around 50% of the children's are affected from air pollution.India's Ministry of Earth Sciences published a research paper in October 2018 attributing almost 41% of PM2.5 air pollution in Delhi to vehicular emissions, 21.5% to dust and 18% to industries. The CSE alleged that is lobbying against the report because it is "inconvenient" for the automobile industry.

Air quality index

Air quality index of Delhi is generally Moderate (101-200) level between January to September, and then it drastically deteriorates to Very Poor (301-400), Severe (401-500) or Hazardous (500+) levels in three months between October to December, due to various factors including stubble burning, road dust,vehicle pollution and cold weather.

Then comes problem of smog

Dur to massive air pollution seen in Delhi the problem of thick Smokey environment during the winter months at later months of 2017. In November 2017, the Great smog of Delhi, the air pollution spiked far beyond acceptable levels. Levels of PM2.5 and PM 10 particulate matter hit 999 micrograms per cubic meter, while the safe limits for those pollutants are 60 and 100 respectively.

A picture showing the pollution and the amount of air pollution in Delhi.

These pictures shows the level of air pollutants present in the air and also indicates that how much the people's and children's are being effected by this air.

Hope you got some information about DelhisDair pollution. In my next blog there will be information about causes and effects of air pollution in Delhi and how the air quality monitoring stations handles the situations.

Thank you 😊.