The Irrational Nostril
Written by Safoora Hafeez
It was the end of 2016 and I was going to attend my annual function rehearsals when I spotted a lot of fog ahead of me. When I and the people I was with began walking through it, my bus mate started coughing. As I was only 10 at the time, I didn't know about the smoky fog, or at least I thought it was fog. That day, after one of the seniors shouted that it was smog, I learned a new word. Unfortunately, it has now become something that I’m very familiar with.
What is air pollution?
In simpler terms, air pollution is the contamination of the atmosphere due to a rise in harmful gases and chemicals, often known as air pollutants. These can be CO2, SO2, and several others. Because air pollution contributes to global warming by increasing the intensity of the atmosphere, it is also closely related to climate change.
Air pollution and India
Out of the 30 most polluted cities, 22 are located in India. In recent years, the air quality index (AQI) of India has reached a deadly stage, resulting in many diseases such as asthma, various lung diseases, heart diseases, and different lung cancers which can ultimately lead to death. However, these situations are not the same all year round, as they only worsen in some months. In other months, the AQI does relatively better. According to the World Health Organization, the healthy AQI level should be between 0-50 but the average air quality of Indian cities is approximately 3 times more than the "healthy" bracket. In the last months of the year, the atmosphere in India is at its worst state, so much that every year schools have to be shut down and several measures for controlling the air quality have to be implemented.
Reasons behind high AQI.
Many factors are at play in worsening the problem. I’ve listed some of the most significant ones:
Vehicle Emissions: India’s population sums up to about 1.3 billion people (according to the 2011 census) resulting in a huge issue regarding vehicles, as they play a major role in worsening air conditions. Globally, transportation emissions contribute to nearly 305.3 Mt CO2 and 0.64 percent of all GHG emissions. In India, this sector is the fastest-growing source of carbon emissions: it releases many harmful gases like Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Nitrous Oxide, Particulate Matter, and more.
Stubble Burning: Stubble burning is the practice of burning down the left-over residue after plant harvest. It’s considered a primitive farming technique. While this might have some short-term benefits, it is harming the air. This practice was not common a couple of decades ago, but with the green revolution that took place, farmers started to use HYV seeds. These needed much water for irrigation, leading to farmers using tubewells, and further resulting in depletion of groundwater levels. To reduce the depletion of water, a law was passed in 2009 banning paddy planting until mid-June, which marks the beginning of monsoon season. It ended up delaying the harvesting time, making farmers opt for the path of stubble burning.
Coal-based power plant: India is the second-largest coal-producing nation after China and generates about 210 GW of energy per year. This is mostly extracted from coal-based power plants, resulting in the release of harmful pollutants like CO2, SO2, and others. The emission of gases is causing 80,000 to 120,000 premature deaths per year, and about 20 million asthma patients have been reported annually due to coal power plants, according to a report by the Guardian.
Construction and Demolition: With a growing population in several cities, construction and demolitions have become an ongoing process that never seems to end. However, it is also contributing to a more polluted atmosphere. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the highest number of complaints relating to construction pollution and demolition activities were reported. The raw materials used in the construction sites create foul air and haze which is hazardous for people, especially children, and elderly citizens.
There are many other reasons for which air pollution continues to worsen. Amongst these, some that are worth highlighting are the use of chemical cleaners, industries not working as directed by National Pollution Boards (which indicates that there should be no polluted air released from the industries and that no contaminated water should be released in the drains), agricultural activities, and more.
How can we fight air pollution?
Many of these problems can be minimized through education and the usage of alternatives, while other solutions require reforms from government bodies and industries. Here we are going to discuss four ways to face this crucial issue.
Using public transport: In metropolitan cities, traffic jams are extremely common, but even in other smaller cities they can happen often. Nowadays, everyone is using private vehicles, even to travel short distances, and in India, this results in the growth of vehicle emissions. Fortunately, there are plenty of more sustainable options available. An excellent example would be electrical rickshaws, which do not produce emissions. By using more eco-friendly alternatives like the rickshaws, chances are that vehicle emissions will decrease.
Using alternative energy sources: We already know that there is a limited stock of fossil fuels like coal, therefore transitioning to cleaner energy sources, like wind or solar energy, is something that should be a priority. However, this problem is something that can only be solved with government action. Thanks to the Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), by 2030, according to their plan, India will reach its non-fossil-fuel-based energy target.
Avoiding firecrackers: Usually, during the last three months of the year, we celebrate two different important holidays: Dussehra and Diwali. A trend that has become more relevant through the years is the usage of firecrackers, which are frequently used during these holidays. Not only are firecrackers being used during major holidays, but they are also generally used to express joy. Firecracker usage has grown out of control, and local governments have gone to the extent of banning them. Nevertheless, people still love to use them to celebrate. It may seem fun to watch them burst into colors in the sky, but under all that color is the grey reality of firecrackers: they end up releasing harmful gases like SO2, CO2, and more harmful pollutants. Avoiding firecrackers can also help reduce noise pollution, in addition to contributing to lowering our emission rates.
Using natural cleaners: While air pollution is often considered a byproduct that results from industry and vehicle emissions, even simpler things like cleaners can be harmful. Check your cleaners label: you will find a multitude of chemicals and, if you dig deeper about how it can affect your health, you will find that it is going to lead to many health problems. Perfumes, room fresheners, and a lot more similar products can also have that same effect. These harmful chemicals are not only impacting you and your health, but they are also contributing to worsening air pollution, as we have to spray many of these products to use them.
While this may not be one of the government’s major priorities right now, it affects so many people. More people die from this issue than people who have died from Covid-19, making it an urgent situation that we must focus on. We can work together towards reducing this problem. We can make the world a better place and together we can guarantee our future.
