Mumbai’s air quality has once again plunged to concerning levels, with four key areas — Deonar, Ghatkopar, Kandivli West, and Navy Nagar Colaba — registering ‘poor’ AQI levels by Tuesday. This marks the latest chapter in the city’s struggle with winter pollution, as rising PM2.5 levels from various sources threaten residents’ respiratory health. While Delhi grapples with even more alarming AQI averages, hitting 321 (‘very poor’ to ‘severe’), Mumbai’s AQI of 150 still places many areas in the ‘poor’ category, posing serious health risks for vulnerable residents.
Delhi, one of the world’s most polluted cities, often experiences severe air quality decline each winter due to stubble burning from surrounding states. Mumbai’s pollution, while lower in AQI by comparison, carries high toxicity due to intense concentrations of PM2.5 and other pollutants originating from heavy vehicular traffic, rampant construction activity, and persistent industrial emissions. According to pollution monitors, PM2.5 levels, which are particularly harmful to respiratory health, remain a primary driver behind Mumbai’s worsening air quality.
Local accounts highlight the on-ground impact of these pollution levels. Kavya Nayak, a resident of Chembur, noted the dense smog blanketing her neighbourhood, obscuring views from high-rise buildings and limiting visibility along key roadways. Meanwhile, Malad residents report a spike in airborne infections, as health clinics see an uptick in cases linked to respiratory ailments. Residents from Kharghar also pointed out concerns about pollutants from nearby Taloja industrial units, adding to the air quality woes in these regions.
Data from Tuesday’s monitoring showed that out of 25 locations, 17 registered air quality below satisfactory standards. Some of the most impacted suburbs included Borivli East, Chembur, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Vasai West, and Malad West, where the AQI ranged from moderately polluted to poor. Experts attribute the dip in air quality to a combination of low temperatures, reduced wind speed, and higher humidity levels, which keep pollutants suspended in the atmosphere. This phenomenon limits the usual dispersal effect from sea breezes, exacerbating pollution as particles accumulate and mix with moisture, causing a warmer, more humid climate. Health authorities warn that prolonged exposure to ‘poor’ AQI levels may lead to breathing discomfort, especially among people with pre-existing respiratory conditions, heart ailments, children, and older adults. As such, those with asthma and other respiratory vulnerabilities are advised to take precautions.
Air quality experts stress the need for continued monitoring, particularly as seasonal conditions may drive further degradation in air quality. Mumbai’s struggle with pollution mirrors the challenges faced by several other Indian cities as winter sets in, drawing comparisons with Delhi’s persistent air quality crisis. With PM2.5 levels remaining high, experts and residents alike are calling for more robust measures to mitigate pollution sources, particularly around high-density areas. Efforts such as controlling industrial emissions, curbing construction dust, and promoting cleaner vehicle technologies could play a pivotal role in easing Mumbai’s pollution burden in the coming years.
