Why is India the most polluted country in the world as per AQI?
The rapid growing industrialization is leading lots of environmental issues by its uncontrolled polluted emission. Other reasons of pollutions in India are the destruction of forests, emissions of vehicles, land degradation due to use of poisonous insecticide for agriculture, shortage of natural resources, rampant burning of wood fuel and many more. Pollution is the main reason to lead lots of disease, health issues and long-term livelihood impact.
Diwali , that is celebrated widely across India with a riot of fireworks and firecrackers. And, along with firecrackers comes pollution. Last year, air pollution hit dangerous levels as India celebrated Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.
It’s a well-known fact that New Delhi out of all the cities in the Capital has the most air- pollution problem as it ranks amongst the 11th worst polluted cities in the world. The average Air Quality Index(AQI) in Delhi has been considered very harmful as per reports by the Central Pollution Control Board’s air quality index bulletin. A distorted air quality index is the most dangerous for children as they are the most vulnerable to air pollution. Scientifically, this is because they breathe twice as fast as adults, thereby taking in more air and pollutants i.e. adversely affecting their growth and immune system. Also, the number of infant deaths has also increased ever since the Air Quality Index has deteriorated.
Air Quality Index
There is widespread agreement that pollution and the quality of air are bad. However, the issue gets stalled there because people don’t impose positive actions towards the issue. This is because they’ll only take action if they understand the issue. Therefore, we need to spread awareness about what the government or other agencies mean by Air Quality Index.
What is an Air Quality Index?
An Air Quality Index India (AQI) is an index for measuring daily air quality. The Air Quality Index India is used by government agencies to communicate to the public at large as to how polluted the air is at present and how polluted it’ll be in the future. Therefore, in layman’s language Air Quality Index Delhi or Air Quality Index Gurgaon, tells you how clean or polluted your air is along with it’s associated health effects in Delhi and Gurgaon respectively.
As the Air Quality Index increases, the likelihood of experiencing adverse health effect also increases. Corresponding to the national air quality standards, different countries different air quality decides, for instance, Air Quality Health Index (Canada) and the Pollutant Standards Index (Singapore).
Cases under which AQI can increase.
Increase of air emissions during rush hour traffic
Increase of pollutants when there is a forest fire
Anticyclone, temperature inversion, or low wind speeds let air pollution remain in a local area, leading to high concentrations of stagnant pollutants in the air, chemical reactions between air contaminants and hazy conditions.
How is the AQI commuted?
AQI is commuted through an air monitor that collects data of the air pollutant concentration over a specified averaging period. The concentration of the pollutants with respect to the time span represents the dose of the air pollutant in the country. Following which an epidemiological research is undergone that lists the given health effects corresponding to the level of pollution or air quality.
Understanding AQI: National Air Quality Index India – Categories
Air quality index values are grouped into categories or ranges. Each category or range is associated with a descriptor, a color code, and a standardized public health advisory.
AQI is a ‘One Number- One Colour-One Description’ for the common man to judge the air quality within his vicinity. Under the current measurement of air quality, 8 parameters.
Categories of Air Quality Index India:
There are six AQI categories, ranging from Good to Severe. And, the AQI takes into account eight pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3, and Pb) for which short-term the National Ambient Air Quality Standards are prescribed.
Conclusion
Nowadays air pollution is a common scenario to all developed and industrially developing countries. Indian air pollution is a quite serious issue for human life. Traffic jams and vehicle emission, industrial exhausting, smokes from biomass and fuel wood burning are major sources for Indian air pollutants. However, Indian per capita emissions of greenhouse gases is low, but it is the third largest greenhouse gases producer in the world, only after China and the United States of America. Which change the climate of India as well as direct effects to the human health.
If there is increased awareness about Air Quality Index India and it’s health impacts depending on the various categories can help to reduce the incidence of air pollution to the most vulnerable people. Since acute exposure to air emissions may cause substantial harm to the health of the masses in general. Therefore, there are variables that can be taken to make people aware of the air-emission reports so that they can plan they’re outdoor activities accordingly to reduce the intake of highly polluted.
Air Quality Index Delhi
The Air Quality Index Delhi has been above 500 in the second week of November’17. Even in Air Quality Index Delhi, there are some areas that are more hit than others such as AQI in West Delhi’s Punjabi Bagh (Air Quality Index of 868) and south-west Delhi’s RK Puram (Air Quality Index of 796). The National Air Quality Index reading records up to 50 i.e. considered ‘good’, and up to 100 is considered ‘satisfactory’. A reading between 401-500 is ranked ‘severe’ on the index, which means the air is perilously filled with pollutants. And, Air Quality Index Delhi often records readings above that mark.
Steps to Curb Intake of Pollution
- You can advise elderly people or children to avoid outdoor exertion.
- People with cardiovascular diseases shouldn’t step out.
- In extreme cases, declare a holiday to reduce safeguard not only the sensitive groups but also the masses in general.
- Encourage voluntary measures to reduce air pollution, such as using carpool.
- Recommend people to use masks to keep fine particles from hampering the lungs.
- During a period of very poor air quality, such as an air pollution episode, the government should temporary enforce a ban on coal-burning industries to curtail emissions until the hazardous conditions subside.
211Macroeconomics 