Between Feb and April, Puneites exposed to ‘unhealthy air' on 60% days

Indian Express

a day ago

Between February and April this year, Puneites were exposed to unhealthy air for 57 out of 89 days, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). Researchers analysed data from the Central Pollution Control Board and found the average PM 10 concentration for the month of February was 127 µg/m³. In the month of March as well, the average PM 10 concentration was 112 µg/m³. The safe daily limit for PM 10 concentration under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) is 100 µg/m³.
PM 10 is a coarse particulate matter. Long-term exposure to PM 10 has been linked to an increased risk of respiratory diseases and cardiovascular problems. Pune had worse air quality this April as compared to April 2024, in terms of PM 10 and PM 2.5 concentration. Long-term exposure to PM 2.5, which is a smaller particulate matter, can lead to increased risk of heart disease, reduced lung function and even lung cancer. This underscores the severity and persistence of air pollution in the city, and the alarming fact that air quality is worsening. Biomass combustion and vehicular emissions are the largest source of PM 2.5 in the city, while PM 10 is mainly from road dust, and construction activities.
'As per Portal for Regulation of Air Pollution in Non-Attainment Cities, around Rs 222 crore has been spent under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). However, annual PM 10 levels have never met the NAAQS. This calls for a serious revisit of city-level action plans with a focus on accountability and effective on-ground execution,' Manoj Kumar, analyst at CREA) told The Indian Express.
'We have been actively engaging with the local administration on issues like mobility, solid waste management, and crematoria issues but we believe more needs to be done. We are concerned that despite an action plan being implemented for over two years, we still do not meet the national standards. Effective solutions like strengthening public transport, improving walkability etc should be focused on rather than deploying technical solutions like mist fountains or fog cannons that are not evidence-based and proven to be effective. Civil society members and citizens need to be made a part of the process of finding and implementing effective solutions that will address pollution at source,' Dushyant Bhatia, member of the Pune Air Action Hub, said.
'The health impacts of poor air quality go beyond respiratory disorders. While it is known that pollution can cause wheezing, asthma and even lung cancer, what comes as a surprise is that it affects almost every organ in the body and can lead to other disorders. The city should take this issue on priority,' Sharmila Deo from Parisar said. Before the winter months set in and the air quality worsens, Pune still has the opportunity to prioritise actions to improve its baseline air quality. Pune, having both the Metro as well as the PMPML service, experts are encouraging affordable public transport that is more accessible for citizens. Facilitating a modal shift from private vehicles to public transport, and strengthening the implementation of the ban on open burning will largely contribute to pollution mitigation, experts added.