AIR POLLUTION & CANCER IN INDIA

What does 2015 research suggest?

WHO:

• Air pollution reduces average life expectancy of 660 million Indians by over 3 years.

• 99% of India’s 1.2 billion, breathe polluted air above safe levels.

Why is there air pollution?

• Emissions of particulates, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide & ozone

• Mostly motor vehicles, coal-burning power stations & factories.

What other air pollution is also problematic?

• Indoor air pollution

• Rural areas: households often lack electricity & depend on biomass fuel.

• E.g. Animal dung for heating & paraffin for cooking/lighting.

Figures to suggest indoor air pollution is harmful?

1 million premature deaths per year.

How has air quality declined?

• Significantly decline

• Especially towards end of October/early November 2023.

What was bad air quality attributed to?

• Sharp rise in farmers in neighbouring states: Harayana & Punjab

• Burning fields during crop planting seasons.

• Strong winds: carried pollutants into Delhi.

• Drop in temps trapped the particles.

What else is Delhi prone to?

• Inversion

• Warm air rests above colder air closer to ground.

• prevents it from mixing upwards & traps all put into it.

What was seen in the state of Punjab?

• 740% increase in farm fires

• Over 1000 recorded in a single day

What is the biggest threat to human health?

Particulate pollution

How is particulate pollution harmful?

• Tiny air-borne particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM)

• Released burning fossil fuels & penetrate deep into people’s lungs.

What can this lead to?

• Serious respiratory problems

• E.g. asthma, bronchitis, lung & heart disease & cancer.

How have residents risk from lung cancer increased?

Increased in Delhi by 70%

Where do WHO guidelines set safe particulate matter?

PM 2.5 pollution levels at 10 micrograms/m3.

What did Indie set permissible levels at?

• 40

• PM 2.5 pollution exceeds this threshold in most large cities

How does Delhi exceed permissible levels in winter months?

Often exceeds 600

Where are the most polluted cities in the world?

2018: 12 in India

What does air pollution in Delhi have a close relationship with?

Elevated levels of mortality & morbidity

Why is calculating the impact of air pollution complicated?

• Air pollution contributes to morality/morbidity.

• Isn’t always the sole cause of respiratory problems.

How do diseases in Delhi compare to rural areas?

• Less polluted rural areas

• Respiratory symptoms e.g. breathlessness, chest discomfort & disease like asthma

• 1.7 times higher in Delhi.

How people in Delhi’s lung function an issue?

• Inhabitants on average 40% reduced

• Compared to 21% in rural areas

• Hypertension linked to air pollution = 40% higher.

Where has air pollution increased in recent years?

• Mumbai & Delhi

• Rise in pollution-related cancers

• E.g. lung & bladder cancer

What is the biggest cause of lung cancer?

• Smoking

• Now, 1 in 5 cases occur in non-smokers

What increase does this represent?

20% increase in last 10 years

Cancer figures in 2020?

• 1 in 68 males

• 1 in 201 females

• Diagnosed with lung cancer in India.

What is an effect of Delhi being the most polluted city in the world?

• People’s live shortened by 11.9 years

• Poor air they breathe

What problems have increased?

• Breathing problems e.g. coughs, colds, watery & irritated eyes.

• Advised by doctors to wear masks & only go out when needed.

Initiatives for strategies on a national scale?

• Delhi Gov: Aam Admi Party (AAP)

• Pollution action plan

• But, little impact on sharp decline in air quality

What methods have the AAP included?

• Sprinkling water on roads - reduce dust.

• Built two 80ft high ‘smog towers’

• Cost over $2m each - scientists deemed them largely ineffective.

What has been prioritised instead of pollution?

Economic growth

What did a 2011 Delhi study suggest?

• Poor bear the brunt of the city’s toxic air

• Both where they live & where they work

How have the national government been pressurised?

Sustained pressure from civil society & the Indian courts

What did the national government launch in response?

2019: National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)

How was progress made from this?

• 1 year later: increasing number of air quality monitoring stations

• But, progress controlling pollution is slow.

How has progress been made to housing?

• Bihar: chimneys of brick-kilns = retrofitted to reduce smoke emissions