The relationship between air quality, global health, and urban life has been put under the microscope in a comprehensive new report, titled “Air Quality and Health in Cities”. The report analyzed data from more than 7,000 cities globally, from 2010 to 2019. It assessed pollution levels and their effects on populations, using two key air pollutants – fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) as indicators.
Unveiling the State of Global Air
The State of Global Air (SoGA) is an initiative designed to offer valuable and reliable insights into the condition of air quality across the globe. A collaborative effort involving the US-based Health Effects Institute and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation’s Global Burden of Disease project, SoGA provides citizens, journalists, policymakers, and scientists with up-to-date and objective data about air pollution and its health impacts.
Key Findings from the Report
The report presented several key findings regarding pollution levels and resultant health impacts in cities around the globe. For PM 2.5 Levels, Delhi and Kolkata took the lead, ranking first and second respectively among the world’s most polluted cities. PM 2.5 refers to atmospheric particulate matter with a diameter under 2.5 micrometres, roughly 3% the width of a human hair. These particles can cause respiratory problems and reduce visibility.
The report also analyzed NO2 Levels across various cities. Interestingly, no Indian city featured on the list of top 10 or even top 20 cities with the highest NO2 levels. This list was led by Shanghai. NO2, which primarily results from burning fuels in older vehicles, power plants, industrial facilities, and residential cooking and heating, is present at high levels in both high-income and low/middle-income cities.
Death and Illnesses Associated with Air Pollution
The report’s findings revealed the extent of health hazards associated with PM 2.5-related illnesses. In this regard, Beijing registered the highest disease burden with 124 fatalities per 100,000 persons attributable to PM 2.5. Delhi and Kolkata also featured prominently on this list, occupying the 6th and 8th spots respectively.
The Role of Monitoring and WHO’s New Air Quality Guidelines
The study underscored the importance of proper monitoring systems, noting that as of 2019, only 117 nations were tracking PM 2.5 levels and just 74 were monitoring NO2 levels. Consequently, exposure to these pollutants exceeded WHO’s standard in 86% of the sampled cities, affecting a staggering 2.6 billion people.
The World Health Organisation’s 2021 guidelines recommend new air quality levels to safeguard public health and reduce pollution levels. The guidelines cover six key pollutants with the most significant health impacts from exposure.
Recommendations for Improvement
To improve air quality and mitigate related health hazards, the report recommends expanding air quality monitoring tools and investing resources for calibration and maintenance of these tools. Collecting and digitizing health records is another vital step towards understanding the impact of air pollution on public health and the effectiveness of existing interventions.
Air Pollution Control Initiatives in India
India has implemented several initiatives to curb air pollution. These include the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) Portal, Air Quality Index, Graded Response Action Plan, the introduction of BS-VI Vehicles, push for Electric Vehicles (EVs), the Odd-Even Policy as an emergency measure to minimize vehicular pollution, and the New Commission for Air Quality Management.
