New Delhi: New research findings published in the journal Nature Communications suggest that air pollution in Northern India is not only harmful to human health but also has severe implications for the country’s efforts to achieve its goal of clean air, a PIB press release stated.
The study, which was conducted by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur, found that fine particulate matter (PM2. 5) is the most detrimental component of air pollution, whose oxidative potential is much higher than that of other particulate matter.
This study suggests that reducing PM mass alone will not be effective in reducing health impacts, and that it is also important to address local sources of PM pollution, such as biomass and fossil fuel burning, including traffic exhaust. The study also found that the chemical composition of PM varies significantly between rural and urban areas, with ammonium chloride, and organic aerosols originating directly from traffic exhaust, residential heating, and the oxidation products of fossil fuels emissions produced in the atmosphere dominating PM pollution in Delhi.
In contrast, outside Delhi, ammonium sulphate and ammonium nitrate, as well as secondary organic aerosols from biomass burning vapors, are the dominant contributors. The study highlights that addressing India’s air pollution crisis requires collaboration among local communities and stakeholders, as well as societal changes, especially in densely populated urban areas like Delhi.
This study provides valuable insights for evidence-based policies and interventions aimed at safeguarding public health and the environment for future generations.
The research findings suggest that prioritizing mitigation strategies based on the most significant health impacts, particularly targeting local inefficient combustion processes, is essential in Northern India.