Common cause of air pollution during winter in India : Pollution

fitROSKY November 13, 2021

We all know that air pollution is one the foremost cause of several disease, air pollution is now the major risk factor of cancer followed by smoking.

In India as the winter arrives the air pollution level also increase drastically.

Air pollution measured by AQI (Air quality index) which runs from 0 to 500, the greater the AQI level and the greater the health risk.

The AQI is divided in to six level;

Green: 0 to 50, represent little or no risk, air quality is satisfactory
Yellow: 51 to 100, represent, risk for some people, air quality is acceptable
Orange: 101 to 25, sensitive groups may experience health effects.
Red: 151-200, General public may experience health effects and the one who are more sensitive may experience more serious health effects.
Purple: 201-300, Health effect is increased for everyone
Maroon: 301-higher, Health warning emergency.

There are five major pollutants which regulated by clean air act:

Ground level ozone
Particle pollution (including PM2.5 and PM10)
Carbon monoxide
Sulfur dioxide
Nitrogen dioxide

In India AQI level of most of the city are more than 400, In Delhi >400, Noida 421, Ghaziabad 442, Rohtak 413.

Here in this article we will tell you common cause of air pollution during winter in India:

1. Crop Burning

As we seeing smog in the Delhi NCR or its surrounding states from last couples of week, it is because of crop burning especially in the states of Haryana and Punjab.

Crop burning is on peak during first weak of November. many farmers set fire to stalk and straw after harvest. crop burning is the cost effective method to clear out the fields.

According to report farmers of the states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajsthan and U.P. grow rice on 10.5 million hectare, which produce estimated 48 million tonnes of straw a year which mean about 39 million tonnes are burnt.

2. Auto mobile emissions

Auto mobile is the foremost and major reason behind air pollution, it is main source of PM2.5 emissions. alone in Delhi, auto mobile makes up to 80% of nitrogen and carbon monoxide in air.

According to reports emissions from 4-wheelers registered in the other states also contribute up to 24-45 percent of overall emissions from cars in Delhi.

3. Industrial Pollution

Over the years, industries plays major contribution in air pollution. urban ares most affected by industries pollution than rural areas.

CPCB (The Central Pollution Control Board) has categorized the polluting industries into 17 types, out of these categories seven haven been marked as 'critical' industries which include iron, steel, sugar, paper, cement, fertilizer, copper and aluminum.

The major pollutants comprise SPM, SOX, NOX and CO2.

4. Power plants

Power plants are equally responsible for air pollution. thermal power plants generate up to 74% of the total power generated in India.

Thermal power plants are the main sources of SO2 and TSP emission. in Delhi, power plants contributed 68% of SO2 and 80% of PM10 concentration.

fitROSKY : BeFIT