Mumbai AIR POLLUTION

How is the financial capital of India emerging as one of the emerging hotspots of air pollution?

Also known as Bombay, and a financial center, it is the largest city in India. It is situated on the west coast of India and is known as the heart of the Indian Bollywood industry. In Mumbai, the problem of air pollution is relatively new and has spiked only in the last decade. Industrial, vehicular, and construction pollutants pollute the air of Mumbai, which has a population of about 12 million people. Although it is not as bad as Delhi's air, it can occasionally hit those dangerous levels.

What are the causes of deteriorating air quality in Mumbai over the last decade?

Particulates (PM2.5 & PM10), as well as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), have been identified as significant pollutants for a variety of health effects, including congestion, shortness of breath, coughing, and nasal congestion, as well as disorders including seasonal allergies, pneumonia, and chronic bronchitis. pollution levels are lower in the summer than in the winter, assuming that the geographical and climatic conditions remain the same. During the winter afternoons, you can see a similar phenomenon. The temperature rise has resulted in a minor reduction in pollutants. The worst times are early mornings and late nights. The impact of the inversion can be seen, which is why air quality suffers during these hours.

Sources of Air Pollution in Mumbai

Mumbai has the world's largest slum area. A survey found that fuel used for domestic uses in the slums of Mumbai contributed about 27% to its pollution levels. Industrial and power plant emissions account for about 36% of the total pollution, accompanied by biofuels.

Traffic emissions: Road transport is responsible for 80% of Mumbai's carbon emissions. Vehicles must be inspected every 6 to 8 months by more pollution under control (PUC) facilities. Supposedly, through the state's new comprehensive sustainable energy strategy, a cash for clunkers program for old cars will assure a transition to renewable fuels, and increased use of non-motorized transportation, and e-vehicles.

Paved and Unpaved Road Dust: Nearly, 71% of particulates in Mumbai's air are due to population growth. A construction site-specific Air Quality Monitoring Plan is essential for sharing data about poor air quality.

Landfills and waste burning: Each day 7,000-7,500 metric tonnes of solid garbage is created by Mumbai. Toxic fumes can be potentially hazardous to the area surrounding the landfills for up to 5-10 kilometers. Apart from that, the smoke from waste burning can travel up to a radius of 15 kilometers, making the air toxic to breathe. 78% of persons living near the landfill area may be seriously contaminated by foul odors associated with the garbage site.

Metro and flyover construction: The continuous construction of Metro train lines is producing significant dust pollution among the different construction operations taking place in Mumbai these days, according to results given to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation by the World Resources Institute (BMC). Suspended dust is caused by the construction of Mumbai metro projects, which accounts for about 3%. Construction works are responsible for nearly 8% of overall particulates emissions.

Health impacts of air pollution on Mumbai residents

1. Vehicular and Traffic Emissions: As the population rises, so does the number of vehicles on the road. This will create traffic jams and congestion resulting in a higher amount of pollutants in the air. They emit toxic pollutants like particulate matter, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, etc. These have the potential to induce heart disease, exacerbate asthma, harm the central nervous system, and make breathing difficult. Lung infection and cancer can be exacerbated due to longer exposures.

2. Road Dust: Main pollutants from road dust are particulates, mainly PM2.5 and PM10. Road dust contributes to about 31% of Mumbai's particulate concentrations. Short-term effects include irritation in the eyes, nose, throat, respiratory tract infections, shortness of breath, sneezing, coughing, etc. Cardiorespiratory diseases can worsen with long-term exposure.

3. Landfills and waste burning: Landfill sites are a major issue in Mumbai, especially since garbage is burned on a large scale, polluting the air. Other than smoke from the waste burning, landfills produce various toxic gasses like methane, ammonia, carbon dioxide, etc. These poisonous gasses add to the already bad air quality of the city. Citizens who lived nearby to the landfill area reported more illnesses, such as flu, eye discomfort, and bodily weakness than those who lived farther away. Continuous inhalation of these pollutants can cause nausea, vomiting, and loss of coordination and higher concentrations can even lead to death.

4. Construction Activities: Coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, lung cancer, strokes, cardiorespiratory diseases, and asthma exacerbation can all be symptoms of pollution from a construction site. As a short-term side effect of living near a construction site, residents may experience a cough or shortness of breath.

The Mumbai government has issued health advice and taken steps. These are:

For various phases of air quality, SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research) issued a standard health guideline:

1. Patients with asthma must keep medications available at all times. When they go outside, they should use N-95 masks and respirators.

2. Wet Mopping is recommended to dusting.

3. All Mumbai citizens were warned to avoid going outside in the morning hours and after sundown.

4. Sensitive populations should avoid any outside physical activity and stay indoors as much as possible.

5. Keep doors and windows closed as much as possible.

To address this ever-increasing problem, strict implementation of the Construction & Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016, which demand a safe and effective waste disposal system, could be the first step.