Air pollution remains one of the biggest threats to India’s environment and is a serious impediment to economic development. A Lancet study estimated that air pollution in India accounted for 1.7 million premature deaths in 2019, which is nothing less than 17.8 percent of the total deaths recorded in the country that year. Both ambient particulate matter pollution and household air pollution contributed significantly to these deaths. The same study estimated that economic losses from premature deaths and morbidity amount to US$ 37 billion annually or 1.36 percent of India’s GDP.

Air pollution is a cross-sectoral problem with emissions originating from diverse sources. Particulate matter poses the biggest challenge, with emission levels continuously exceeding standards, particularly in urban areas. Industrial activities (36 percent) and residential combustion (39 percent) account for the bulk of PM2.5 emissions. The transport sector, concentrated largely in urban centres, adds another 4 percent although, being an on-ground source, its real impact on air quality is higher.

Reference:

//www.orfonline.org/research/indias-air-pollution-challenge

Promit Mookherjee, 

India's Air Pollution Challenge: Translating Policies into Effective Action, July 2022, Observer Research Foundation.

POLLUTION AND HEALTH

• Air pollution is contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere.

• Both short- and long-term exposure to air pollution can lead to a wide range of diseases, including stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, trachea, bronchus and lung cancers, aggravated asthma and lower respiratory infections.

• Long-term health effects from air pollution include heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory diseases such as emphysema. Air pollution can also cause long-term damage to people's nerves, brain, kidneys, liver, and other organs. Some scientists suspect air pollutants cause birth defects.

• carbon emission Countries 

            China: 29.18%

               USA: 14.02%

               India: 7.09%

     India earning carbon emission credit but more suffers than China & USA due to Air Pollution.

• National Clean Air Program (NCAP) & other measures taken to control air pollution but public participation is most important to cope up consequences to minimize it.

Air pollution and climate change have worsened the health status of human beings and affected plants and vegetation adversely.A variety of air pollutants are identified at unprecedented levels. Particulate matter and oxides of sulfur and nitrogen are common pollutants of the atmosphere. The emissions of these criteria pollutants have been studied widely. An overview of their global and regional emissions is helpful in assessing the status of contributions from various sectors and efficacy of control strategies over the years in both developed and developing nations of the world. Particulate matter levels in developed regions have been observed to have decreased substantially toward the end of the twentieth century, contrary to the trend of emissions in developing countries. Transportation and power generation sectors are key sources of PM emissions. Timely intervention of suitable strategies to combat emissions in developing regions is crucial to nullify the increasing trend of emissions. 

References: - //link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-10-1201-3_2

Based on the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission, the Government of India allocated roughly $1.7 billion in 2020 to combat air pollution for the 42 Indian cities with a million or more inhabitants over the following five years - provided to reduce their air pollution levels by 15% annually.

The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) of the Government of India is a significant step in recognizing and resolving the issue of declining ambient air quality. With an emphasis on about 132 "non-attainment" cities whose air quality requirements are not being reached, the NCAP has set a deadline for improving air quality across the nation. The NCAP offers cities a comprehensive framework for creating air quality management plans as well as recommendations for policies in several fields.

The Indian government has recently tightened regulations on industrial and vehicle emissions and is planning to revise the ambient air quality criteria. Among the measures India is adopting to reduce air pollution include a significant emphasis on growing renewable energy, promoting electric vehicles, and providing LPG cooking fuel to millions of homes.

Reference: //www.worldbank.org/en/country/india/publication/catalyzing-clean-air-in-india

In many countries around the world, air quality standards are in place for ozone, SO₂, NO₂, CO, PM, and lead. Within countries that have air quality regulations, there is not a consistent approach to regulating important air pollutants. In the USA, these pollutants are referred to as criteria pollutants and NAAQS are established for these pollutants at the federal level. The EU has parallel limits for these pollutants but also has air quality limits for benzene, arsenic, cadmium, nickel, and PAHs. National standards in Japan are not set for lead but are set for benzene, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, dichloromethane, and dioxins. Similar lists of air pollutants are regulated in China and India with direct air quality standards. In some locations where air quality standards have not been developed, the WHO guidelines are used as a reference for air quality management. In many locations around the world, compliance with air quality standards and the WHO guidelines is not achieved.

Given the importance of specific industrial sectors on air pollution, sector-based regulations for emission controls have been developed. Important examples are mandated controls on mobile sources, including gasoline-powered motor vehicles and diesel-powered vehicles, stationary power generation, and Portland cement manufacturing. A good example of a regulation or control strategy is that related to HAPs established by the USA: the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs)  identify specific pollutants and emissions limits relevant to a wide range of industries.

References: //www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK368032/  

These policies, acts, and guidelines set recommended limits for pollutants, focus on implementing measures to reduce emissions, and promote public awareness about the health impacts of air pollution. However, implementing these policies can be challenging due to the focus on economic growth and the need for significant resources. Continued commitment and investment by governments and general public will be necessary to achieve meaningful progress in reducing air pollution in India

Air pollution is the second highest risk factor for noncommunicable diseases and requires concerted action by local, national, and regional level policy-makers in sectors like energy, transport, waste management, urban planning, and agriculture. Examples of successful policies include clean technologies, improved management of urban and agricultural waste, access to affordable clean household energy solutions, shifting to clean modes of power generation, prioritizing rapid urban transit, walking and cycling networks, shifting to cleaner heavy-duty diesel vehicles, and low-emissions vehicles and fuels, improving the energy efficiency of buildings and making cities more green and compact, and supporting climate-friendly policies.

References: //www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ambient-(outdoor)-air-quality-and-health

Globally, around 2.8 billion people continue to rely on solid fuels such as wood, dung and crop
residues, and coal for cooking. As per the 2011 census, 780 million of them live in India. While the
percentage of the population using solid fuels for cooking has decreased gradually over the years, the
absolute numbers remain comparable. Indeed, more people cook with solid fuels today than the total
Indian population in 1980. In simple traditional stoves, biomass combustion produces a range of
toxic products resulting from incomplete combustion, including PM2.5 that is roughly equal to
burning about 400 cigarettes an hour during cooking. Given that this occurs at the times and places
where people are breathing, a large percentage of the population (particularly women and children
who tend to be in the kitchen most) are exposed to this source of pollution.

References: //main.mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/5412023661450432724_0.pdf

The burden of disease attributable to air pollution is now estimated to be on a par with other major global health risks such as unhealthy diets and tobacco smoking. In 2015, the World Health Assembly adopted a landmark resolution on air quality and health, recognizing air pollution as a risk factor for noncommunicable diseases such as is cheremic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and cancer, and the economic toll they take. The global nature of the challenge calls for an enhanced global response.

References 

//www.who.int/publications/i/item/

Indian Council of Medical Research has just let out the shocking fact after tracking the deadly cancer trend over 24 years. India will see a 20% overall increase in additional cases of cancer every year by 2020. In absolute numbers, lung cancer will top the list with new cases annually by 2020.

We only rely on the voluntary efforts of enterprising researchers and doctors for local evidences, and human stories of illness to charge up action. Though health effects of pollution have been thoroughly looked into in the West, showing significant harmful effects at levels substantially lower than those found in our cities, our policies are insular to such data. These are not used by our regulators to warn people about severe risks of pollution episodes, or speed up pollution emergency action. Our air pollution policies do not even pretend to protect all people from continuous exposure to pollutants. The official action on some of the fastest growing pollution sources like vehicles even limits the scope of protection

Policies to reduce pollution and protect health

EPA SMARTWAY PROGRAMME has empowered companies to move goods in the cleanest, most energy-efficient way.

Reducing exposure through city planning

Speak up where you live

references:edf.org

                   : //www.cseindia.org/policy-police-is-air-pollution-a-problem-any-more-3726

Follow these Tips Every Day to Reduce Pollution:

• Conserve energy - at home, at work, everywhere.
• Look for the ENERGY STAR label when buying home or office equipment.
• Carpool, use public transportation, bike, or walk whenever possible.
• Follow gasoline refueling instructions for efficient vapor recovery, being careful not to spill fuel and always tightening your gas cap securely.
• Consider purchasing portable gasoline containers labeled “spill-proof,” where available.
• Keep car, boat, and other engines properly tuned.
• Be sure your tires are properly inflated.
• Use environmentally safe paints and cleaning products whenever possible.
• Mulch or compost leaves and yard waste.
• Consider using gas logs instead of wood.

• Reduce the number of trips you take in your car.
• Reduce or eliminate fireplace and wood stove use.
• Avoid burning leaves, trash, and other materials.
• Avoid using gas-powered lawn and garden equipment.
• Reference: //www3.epa.gov/region1/airquality/reducepollution.html

Air pollution has been a major source of concern since time immemorial, but it has only recently come to the attention of stakeholders. The negative consequences of air pollution continue to be observed, indicating uncertainties and gaps in existing management policies and control strategies. The article attempts to provide information about the evolution of air quality management policies in India by compiling data from previous studies compiled in the Indian Air Quality Studies Interactive Repository (IndAIR). The study also identifies research gaps in previous studies as well as spatial distribution on a country map using Geographical Information Systems (GIS). According to the gap analysis, air pollution has been well studied in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGPs), and metro cities. The present further reviews several gaps, classified into three categories: research, policies, and economics.

References:

//doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2021.100431

Air pollution is a serious environmental issue that poses a significant threat to public health and the natural environment. India, in particular, has been facing severe air pollution problems due to a combination of factors. Some of the guidelines and policies followed inIndia are such as 

The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was launched in January 2019 to address the rising levels of air pollution in India. The program aims to reduce the concentration of PM10 and PM2.5 particles by 20-30% by 2024. The program also aims to create a framework for better air quality management and monitoring across the country. However, some researchers have criticized the program for not being ambitious enough and lacking a clear implementation plan.

The National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) were first introduced in 1982 and have since been revised several times. The standards provide guidelines for the acceptable levels of air pollutants in different regions of the country. However, the implementation of these standards has been weak, with many cities in India failing to meet the prescribed standards. Another study published in Environmental Science and Pollution Research in 2020 evaluated the impact of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on air quality in Delhi during the winter of 2018-2019. The study found that the implementation of GRAP measures, such as the closure of polluting industries and the odd-even scheme for private vehicles, had led to a significant reduction in particulate matter (PM2.5) levels in Delhi during the implementation period.

Reference:

"Implementation challenges of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) in India" by Dey et al. (2020) published in the journal Environmental Science and Pollution Research.

"Assessing the effectiveness of India’s National Clean Air Programme: A critical review" by Kumar and Kumar (2021) published in Science of The Total Environment.

The Sameer App was created by the CPCB to create public awareness for Air Quality and provide a platform for grievances redressal. It provides hourly updated information on air quality, pollutant-wise sub-index, and monthly calendar. It also issues advisories through push notifications to the public. The App provides a facility for lodging grievances related to air pollution, such as uploading photographs and geo-coordinates, and is integrated with the complaint management system of implementing agencies. Since November 2018, 30K+ public complaints have been received on the App, with 80% resolved through coordination with more than 42 implementing agencies.

//cpcb.nic.in/openpdffile.php?id=UmVwb3J0RmlsZXMvMTQwM18xNjU1MzU0NzkxX21lZGlhcGhvdG8xNjQ3MS5wZGY=

//pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1593056#:~:text=The%20Central%20Government%20has%20launched,reduction%20in%20PM10%20and