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Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Pune: Study reveals persistent poor air quality between Feb & Apr 2025
A recent study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), based on data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), has revealed that Pune experienced poor air quality on 57 out of 89 days between February and April 2025. The analysis underscores that PM10 levels — levels of coarse particulate matter originating mainly from road dust and construction activities — consistently exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) throughout most of this three-month period, particularly in February and March. According to the study published on June 10, the average PM10 concentration stood at 127 µg/m³ in February and 112 µg/m³ in March, both significantly higher than the permissible limit of 100 µg/m³. Although April saw a slight improvement, with average PM10 levels dropping to 94 µg/m³, the figures still marked a year-on-year increase. This trend signals a reversal from earlier improvements which is worrying. In case of PM2.5 — a finer and more hazardous pollutant associated with vehicular emissions, industrial activity, and biomass burning — the monthly averages were within the 60 µg/m³ threshold but remained a matter of concern: 55 µg/m³ in February, 51 µg/m³ in March, and 44 µg/m³ in April. The CREA report warns that prolonged exposure to both PM10 and PM2.5 can have serious health consequences, including respiratory illnesses and cardiovascular complications. Despite several interventions under the city's Clean Air Action Plan and a cumulative expenditure of ₹222 crore under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), Pune has consistently failed to achieve compliance with annual PM10 standards. A six-year trend analysis (2019–2025) presented in the study showed inconsistent but troubling patterns in particulate matter levels. PM2.5 concentrations dropped sharply to 23 µg/m³ in 2020 — likely due to the Covid-19 pandemic-related lockdowns — but spiked to 61 µg/m³ in 2022. Levels improved to 36 µg/m³ in 2024 before rising again to 44 µg/m³ this year. A similar trend was seen for PM10, which fell to 36 µg/m³ in 2020, peaked at 101 µg/m³ in 2022, dropped to 87 µg/m³ in 2024, and rose again to 94 µg/m³ in April 2025. Manoj Kumar, an analyst at CREA, said, 'Despite the investments, we've never met national PM10 standards. This calls for a serious review of local action plans and better accountability in implementation.' Dushyant Bhatia, a member of the Pune Air Action Hub, echoed similar concerns. 'We've worked with local authorities on issues like mobility and solid waste, but the current approach needs a rethink. We need source-level interventions such as improved public transport and a ban on open burning, rather than stop-gap measures like mist cannons, which have limited effectiveness,' Bhatia said. Experts also stressed that with winter approaching — a season typically marked by deteriorating air quality — the city must act swiftly to improve baseline conditions. With infrastructure like the Metro and Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) buses already in place, the focus must shift toward enhancing accessibility and affordability of public transport to reduce dependence on private vehicles. When contacted, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) regional officer J S Salunkhe did not respond. However, in an earlier statement, he acknowledged that PM10 levels continue to exceed safe limits due to construction activity and traffic congestion. He added that action has been initiated against ready-mix plants and that coordination with traffic police is underway to address the issue.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Between Feb and April, Puneites exposed to ‘unhealthy air' on 60% days
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.
