The escalating issue of air pollution is taking a deadly toll on India’s metro cities, with alarming statistics emerging from a recent study published in The Lancet. Bengaluru, historically dubbed the ‘Pensioners’ Paradise,’ has recorded a concerning rise in pollution-related deaths, totalling 2,102 between 2008 and 2019. While this figure is lower than Chennai’s 2,870 deaths, it surpasses Hyderabad’s 1,597 deaths within the same period.
The study underscores the critical need for India to revise its air quality standards in line with scientific evidence. Researchers have found that short-term exposure to PM 2.5, fine particulate matter known to be hazardous to health, is responsible for 7.2% of annual deaths in ten major Indian cities. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the safe limit for PM 2.5 is 15 micrograms per cubic metre. However, India’s current standard permits levels up to 60 micrograms per cubic metre, significantly higher than the WHO’s recommendations. Even cities traditionally perceived as having relatively cleaner air, such as Bengaluru and Shimla, are not immune to the adverse health impacts of air pollution. The study reveals that the risk of mortality increases sharply even at lower levels of pollution, an issue that current policies fail to adequately address.
Utilising data sourced from air quality monitors, satellite imagery, and other methods over an 11-year span, the study highlights the disparity between India’s air quality standards and those advocated by the WHO. The findings suggest that India’s existing regulations are insufficient to safeguard public health effectively. The authors of the study call for an urgent overhaul of India’s air quality standards to better protect citizens from the detrimental effects of air pollution. Implementing stricter standards could significantly reduce the high incidence of pollution-related deaths across Indian cities.
The burgeoning air pollution crisis in Indian metro cities necessitates immediate and decisive action to revise and enforce stricter air quality standards. As the data clearly indicates, failure to do so will continue to endanger public health and exacerbate mortality rates linked to air pollution. With India’s urban population growing and industrial activities intensifying, the imperative to address air quality issues has never been more pressing. Adopting WHO’s guidelines and implementing robust measures could mitigate the severe health impacts and save countless lives in the process.
