Recent Developments

India is roiled with specific problems where the two-thirds of its population still lives outside of cities and 80% of these households rely on biomass like wood and dung for cooking and heating. The WHO report also points out that 14 out of 20 polluted cities were from India. Thus, to avert such crisis we need to plan solutions in a bottom-up approach.

Recent Developments

National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)

  • The Centre has launched National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) to reduce particulate matter (PM) pollution by 20-30% in at least 102 cities by 2024.
  • The NCAP will be a mid-term, five-year action plan with average annual PM levels of 2017 as the base year. This is not a pan-India, but a city-specific programme.
  • As part of the NCAP, cities have been given a specified number of days to implement specific measures such as ensuring roads are pothole-free to improve traffic flow and thereby reduce dust (within 60 days) or ensuring strict action against unauthorized brick kilns (within 30 days).

Clean Air is a “Human Right”

  • The 1st WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution & Health was held in Geneva from 30th October to 01st November, 2018
  • In conclusion to this summit, to mitigate air pollution deaths by 2/3rd by 2030, WHO will focus on five areas, including universal electrification of health facilities, strengthening institutional mechanisms, etc.

Greening with Pollution-Gobbling Trees

  • Scientists from the CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) screened 26 species in area-specific region of Himachal Pradesh with the aim of finding air pollutant-gobbling plant species.
  • This was carried out in compliance with the Green Highways (Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification& Maintenance) Policy, 2015 to contain pollution in urban/industrial areas.
  • Most Tolerant and Least Tolerant Plants: deciduous trees such as Indian redwood (Caesalpinia sappan), shisham (Dalbergia sissoo) and shirish (Albizia lebbeck) were found to be most tolerant; followed by semi-deciduous trees such as neem (Azadirachta indica), gulmohar (Delonix regia) and guava (Psidium guajava); whereas, evergreen trees such as cassia (Cassia siamea), banyan (Ficus benghalensis), and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora) were found to be least tolerant.

How these Plants were Classified?

  • Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI): They looked at Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) to classify the species. APTI taps into biochemical characteristics of plants (ascorbic acid, chlorophyll, relative water content, and leaf-extract pH) to identify tolerance levels of different plant species.
  • Anticipated Performance Index (API): In the assessment, APTI data was integrated with Anticipated Performance Index (API) that incorporates biological and socioeconomic values (plant habit, type of plant, canopy structure, size of the plant, leaf structure, and hardiness) of the species.

SAFAR

  • “System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting & Research (SAFAR)” was indigenously developed by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune and operationalized by Indian Meteorological Development (IMD).
  • It measures sun’s UV-Index (UVI), PM1, Mercury and Black Carbon in a real-time basis. In addition to this regular AQ and weather parameters like PM 2.5, PM 10, Sulfur Dioxide, Ozone, Nitrogen Oxides, Carbon Monoxide.
  • MoES, CPCB, EPCA will also issue alerts, bulletins and warning messages on anticipated emergency situations through the central pollution watchdog’s website and the media.

New Pollution Forecast System launched in Delhi

The Centre on 15th October, 2018 launched an air quality prediction system that would forecast the state of the air three days in advance for various areas in the capital and several localities in Gurgaon, Ghaziabad and Rohtak.

  • The new service is expected to not only help residents gear up for bad-air days but also equip enforcement agencies in taking pre-emptive action and issuing warnings.
  • The system is meant to issue alerts on large scale air pollution events which may occur over Delhi region

WAYU

  • “Wind Augmentation Purifying Unit (WAYU)” was inducted on 25th September, 2018, at ITO in New Delhito address air pollution at high traffic zones like traffic intersections and parking areas.
  • The device is jointly developed by the NEERI, CSIR which consists of two phases which will remove poisonous gases such as volatile organic compounds and carbon monoxide.
  • This device works on two principles: wind generation for dilution of air pollutants and active pollutants removal.
  • The purified air is then ejected with force into the atmosphere so as to help dilute pollutant content in the outside air.

BREATHE INDIA Action Plan

  • NITI Aayog has proposed 15-point draft action plan titled “Breathe India” for combating air pollution in ten most polluted cities in the country, including Delhi, Kanpur & Varanasi.
  • The report further states that nine out of 10 people worldwide breathe polluted air, which causes almost seven million deaths a year.
  • The 15-point formula includes measures like replacing all petrol-diesel vehicles in use at government offices by electric and hybrid vehicles, streamlining power plants, encouraging solar panels on rooftops schemes.

Fig: Overview of the Action Plan

Economic Survey’s Data on Air Pollution

  • Economic Survey, 2017-18: released on 29th January, 2018 stated that burning of the agricultural waste and vehicular pollution from trucks, buses, cars, are among the main reason for poor quality of air in Delhi-NCR.
  • The Economic Survey noted that burning of firecrackers isalso responsible for poor air quality.
  • The survey also noted that some 35 million tonnes of rice paddy in three adjoining states (Punjab, Haryana and Western UP) are burnt in late October, whose plumes drift eastward resulting in poor air quality of Delhi-NCR.

Uranium Contamination of Water

  • Recently, a study published in Environmental Science and Technology Letters, has found over 30 micrograms per litre (mcg/l) of the heavy metal is found in parts of northwestern, southern and southeastern India.
  • The Environmental Science paper identified two types of terrains with heavy contamination: in Rajasthan and other northwestern regions, uranium occurs mostly in alluvial aquifers; while in southern regions such as Telangana, crystalline rocks such as granite seem to be the source.
  • It was noted that, when groundwater is over-extracted from these terrains, the researchers suggest, the uranium is exposed to air, triggering its release.
  • A 2015 Bangalore study, also found uranium levels of over 2000 mcg/l in the southern part of the city. Other studies found levels of over 500 mcg/l in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. This paper adds new data to this body of evidence by sampling wells in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
  • This issue might have a possible link with high rates of chronic kidney disease (CKD) where 8,385 CKD cases were found with no known cause.

Pollutants from Agriculture a Serious Threat to World's Water

  • Of late, FAO and the International Water Management Institute at a conference in Tajikistan (19-22 June) released “More People, More Food, Worse Water? A Global Review of Water Pollution from Agriculture”.
  • As per the report, in many countries the biggest source of water pollution today is agriculture — not cities or industry — while worldwide, the most common chemical contaminant found in groundwater aquifers is nitrate from farming.
  • Modern agriculture is responsible for the discharge of large quantities of agrochemicals, organic matter, sediments and saline trading into water bodies, the report says.
  • This type of pollution affects billions of people and generates annual costs exceeding billions of dollars.
  • Thus, agro-pollutants is the greatest concern for human health are pathogens from livestock, pesticides, nitrates in groundwater, trace metallic elements and emerging pollutants, including antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant genes excreted by livestock.

Water Productivity Mapping of Major Indian Crops

  • Union Ministry for Water Resources released a book ‘Water productivity mapping of major Indian crops’ published by NABARD on Jun 14.
  • The book ‘Water productivity mapping of major Indian crops’ is based on study of 10 important crops by a team under the leadership of leading agricultural economist Dr. Ashok Gulati.
  • The ten important crops include rice, wheat, maize, pulses, oilseeds, sugarcane, cotton and potato etc.
  • The book suggests to realign cropping pattern keeping in view water scarcity of irrigation, ration irrigation supplies in canal irrigation system, improve micro-irrigation and invest in water harvesting and artificial recharge and encourage participatory irrigation management through water user association and farmer’s producer organization.

Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 2018

  • Recently, a report titled “Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 2018”, backed by UN and authored by an expert panel working with the WMO & UNEP was published.
  • This report has stated that the collaborative efforts of signatory countries of the Montreal Protocol have helped heal the ozone layer.
  • As per the report, the Northern Hemisphere leads the race and expects its ozone layer to be completely healed by the 2030s, the Southern Hemisphere lags behind, and expects to reach complete closure by mid-century.
  • And, if this continues the gaping hole in the ozone layer over the Antarctic should disappear by the 2060s.
  • The report also stated that the biggest cause of the depletion was the presence of various ozone-depleting substances (ODS) such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons, which constitute CFC-11 emissions, and were ultimately banned in 2010.

What is Surface Ozone?

  • Apart from presence in Stratosphere, small percentage of Ozone is present near the earth’s surface. This is known as “Surface Ozone”.
  • A recent study undertaken by TERI, IITM Pune in collaboration with researchers from Norway and Sweden to estimate the future emission scenario and its impact, revealed that surface ozone will continue to rise drastically, particularly in north India. This will be due to anthropogenic pressures, inorganic aerosols and climate change.
  • Simulations showed that by the 2050s, ozone levels will increase by up to 4.4% (or by 2 parts per billion) in large swathes of north India, particularly Uttar Pradesh.
  • Surface ozone acts as pollutants which not only damages health but also destroys crops. In a country where “food insecurity” is high, this should be reason enough to act.

Plastics in Bottled Water

  • A study was conducted by the researchers from the State University of New York which has discovered that more than 90% of bottled water worldwide, including India, contains tiny pieces of plastic.
  • The researchers tested 259 individual bottles across 11 brands sold in nine countries, including Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and the US. Samples in India were drawn from 19 locations in Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai.
  • Polypropylene, used to make plastic bottle caps, was the most common polymeric material (54%) found in the samples while nylon was the second most abundant (16%).
  • After accounting for possible laboratory contamination, 93% of bottled water showed some presence of microplastics.
  • Researchers found an average of 10.4 microplastic particles per litre of bottled water using spectroscopic analysis.

Regulations of Packaged Water in India

  • Bottling units are regulated by state and central agencies in India, including the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
  • The Indian Institute of Packaging is instrumental in checking water bottle samples for quality of plastic and related contamination inside the bottle on behalf of BIS.
  • Preventive action is taken by BIS only if residual monomers, heavy metals or residual (chemical) catalysts are found beyond acceptable limits.

Dust Mitigation Plan

  • The Environment Ministry in a gazette notificationfrom 25th January, 2018 has made it mandatory for companies seeking environment clearance to ensure that they put in place a dust mitigation plan.
  • The standards were developed by the CPCB as part of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, and will now empower the organization to impose penalty on companies and agencies for not complying with the norms.
  • A study by the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur and commissioned by the Delhi government reported, in 2015, that road dust, burning of biomass and municipal solid waste, constituted major part of the city’s air pollution.
  • Another estimate by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune had different numbers but still ranked dust as the major contributor — 52% — to the city’s PM10 load.

India Hosted World Environment Day

  • India hosted the World Environment Day on 05th June, 2018 for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the protection of our environment.
  • The theme was: “Beat Plastic Pollution” with the slogan “If you can’t reuse it, refuse it”.
  • India is emerging as a leader; given it has one of the highest recycling rates in the world. It can be instrumental in combating plastic pollution.
  • This involved participation from all States and UT’s, districts, local bodies and organizations. Moreover, week-long environmental awareness campaigns were also promoted in Delhi and other parts of our country.

Moss can Remove Lead from Water

  • Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) in Japan have identified a moss (Funaria hygrometrica) capable of absorbing ‘Lead’ from wastewater.
  • According to the study, after 22 hours of exposure of moss to different concentrations of metals separately, mass spectrometer analysis showed that the moss cells had absorbed ‘lead’ up to 74% of their dry weight, which is quite high and much higher than any of the other metals.
  • Presently, removal of lead or other heavy metals from water requires fossil fuels and a tremendous amount of energy.
  • This newly discovered “phytoremediation-based removal technique” provides cheap as well as green alternative for decontaminating polluted water and soil.

Back to the Basics

What do you mean by Pollution?

Pollution is the introduction of the contaminants into the natural environment which has harmful or poisonous effects that causes adverse changes.

Types of Pollution

Air Pollution

  • When the air becomes contaminated with contaminants such as poisonous gases or particles, it can cause serious problems to human health.
  • The most common causes of air pollution include partially combusted exhaust gases, poisonous gases which are a by-product of industry including SO2 and CO, and other carcinogenic gases released through the burning of plastic, rubber and wood.
  • This works by slowly poisoning organisms which breathe it in, or by disturbing the atmosphere and mixing with their air and clouds to cause ‘acid rain’.

Water Pollution

  • This type of pollution can be referred to as the contamination of bodies of water including groundwater.
  • Universal causes of water pollution include industrial waste, insecticides, pesticides, and fertilizers, detergents and oil spills.
  • These contaminants work by killing off organisms through their toxicity (fertilizers, insecticides), or reducing oxygen value in the water by blocking out sunlight.

Soil Pollution

  • Soil can be uncovered of its nutrients by a number of chemical agents (.i.e. contaminants) causing Soil pollution ultimately.
  • Universal causes of soil pollution include pesticides, insecticides, agricultural chemicals, industrial waste, and radioactive waste.
  • The heavy metals which get into the soil via chemical pollution also have a devastating effect on the ecosystem as they alter the metabolism of microorganisms and arthropods living in the soil.
  • These heavy metals become more concentrated as they move up the food chain, often wiping out predator or consumer species at the apex (.i.e. bio-magnification).

Noise Pollution

  • Noise pollution refers to an excess of unpleasant sounds emanating from industry, infrastructure, heavy machinery, transportation, and even human occupation being released into the environment.
  • In humans, noise pollution can have a detrimental effect on both mental and physical health and has been linked to high stress levels, hearing loss, hypertension, depression, sleep disturbances and an increase in incidences of coronary artery disease.
  • Noise pollution affects flora and fauna as it interferes with communication, making it difficult for animals to navigate, mate and detect prey.

Light Pollution

  • Light pollution is defined as the alteration of natural light levels in both indoor and outdoor environments through human interference.
  • Light pollution causes headaches, fatigue, stress and anxiety.
  • Light pollution disrupts natural ecosystems by confusing animal’s navigation, altering predator-prey relations, disrupting plant growth and pollination, and change competitor interactions.

Thermal Pollution

  • Many industries release heat energy as a by-product and once released into the environment, this thermal energy is partially responsible for global warming.
  • CO2 gas prevents heat from exiting the atmosphere, so the heat from the sun, combined with the excess thermal energy which is a by-product of many industries as well as vehicles cannot escape and raises the temperature of the atmosphere.

Radioactive Pollution

  • When radioactive metals disintegrate, they release beta rays which can cause a whole host of mutative diseases in living organisms; this is known as Radioactive Pollution.
  • This mostly comes from the nuclear power plants, either in the form of radioactive waste being dumped or improperly disposed of and then making its way into bodies of water, or from the accidental release of radioactive substances when a nuclear reactor is damaged.
  • Once radioactive pollution is present in the environment, it can linger for decades, making enormous areas of land unfit for human occupation of any sort.

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