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Indian homes are among the prime contributors to deteriorating air quality in cities and towns alongside pollution by the usual suspects such as the transportation and power sectors, two studies using different methodologies have documented.“>
While the Berhampur University-IISc study analysed emissions data from four years ago, the IITM-IIT study modelled sectoral contributions through simulations for 2015-16.
Scientists say the findings from these studies are still relevant. While absolute emission levels may change over time, the relative dominance of pollution sources in many cities is unlikely to shift significantly.
Gufran Beig, chair professor of National Institute of Advanced Studies at IISc, told TOI that per the study based on 2020 data, the top five states of India were responsible for 40% of NOx emissions. “Uttar Pradesh was the largest emitter, contributing 10.5% of emissions, followed by Maharashtra (9.7%) and Tamil Nadu (7.2%).”
On the findings of the IITM-IIT study, IITM scientist Rajmal Jat said, “We found that residential emissions dominated PM2.5 pollution in 29 cities, including Srinagar, Kanpur and Allahabad. Transport emissions were the primary contributors in nine cities, including Delhi, where vehicular exhaust accounted for 55% of PM2.5 pollution.”
The IISc study also arrived at estimates of how much of key pollutants India ejects every year. Carbon monoxide (CO) was at 45 teragrams (Tg); NOx stood at 22.8 Tg, volatile organic compounds (VOC) hit 10.8 Tg, and sulfur dioxide (SO2) was at 15.1 Tg. To put this into perspective, 1 Tg equals one million metric tonnes, which means India’s CO emissions alone weigh as much as 45 million metric tonnes. Vehicle exhaust contributed the most NOx and VOC whereas residential and power sectors were the highest emitters of CO and SO2, respectively,” said Saroj Kumar Sahu, a scientist with the Berhampur University‘s department of environmental science.
Despite differences in methodology and scope, both studies aligned in identifying the Indo-Gangetic Plain as a critical pollution hotspot, where conditions worsened due to seasonal stubble burning, dense traffic and biomass use.
The IITM-IIT study found that Greater Mumbai stood out for its high-intensity pollution from multiple sources, recording the highest local PM2.5 levels among western and southern cities, with contributions from industries, residential activities and the energy sector. In western India, parts of Ahmedabad and Vasai Virar had significant industrial contributions to pollution, while energy sources dominated in Surat, Nashik and Nagpur. For instance, industries contributed nearly half of the PM2.5 pollution in Ahmedabad and Greater Mumbai, while the energy sector was the main source in Nashik and Surat, contributing 38-44%.
Indian homes are among the prime contributors to deteriorating air quality in cities and towns alongside pollution by the usual suspects such as the transportation and power sectors, two studies using different methodologies have documented.
The papers, published last month in scientific journals, arrived at the findings by tracking sources of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and emissions from energy use across the urban belt.
Berhampur University in Odisha and Bengaluru’s Indian Institute of Science (IISc) prepared a high-resolution emission inventory for the base year 2020 that shows vehicle fumes as the leading source of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the air, while residential activities account for the majority of carbon monoxide (CO) emissions.
A modelling study by Pune’s Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and IIT Roorkee complements these findings. Their analysis of PM2.5 pollution across 53 cities attributes the bulk of emissions to residential fuel use and vehicular exhaust.
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Scientists say the findings from these studies are still relevant. While absolute emission levels may change over time, the relative dominance of pollution sources in many cities is unlikely to shift significantly.
- Updated On Dec 23, 2024 at 04:08 PM IST
Indian homes are among the prime contributors to deteriorating air quality in cities and towns alongside pollution by the usual suspects such as the transportation and power sectors, two studies using different methodologies have documented.“>
While the Berhampur University-IISc study analysed emissions data from four years ago, the IITM-IIT study modelled sectoral contributions through simulations for 2015-16.Scientists say the findings from these studies are still relevant. While absolute emission levels may change over time, the relative dominance of pollution sources in many cities is unlikely to shift significantly.Gufran Beig, chair professor of National Institute of Advanced Studies at IISc, told TOI that per the study based on 2020 data, the top five states of India were responsible for 40% of NOx emissions. “Uttar Pradesh was the largest emitter, contributing 10.5% of emissions, followed by Maharashtra (9.7%) and Tamil Nadu (7.2%).”On the findings of the IITM-IIT study, IITM scientist Rajmal Jat said, “We found that residential emissions dominated PM2.5 pollution in 29 cities, including Srinagar, Kanpur and Allahabad. Transport emissions were the primary contributors in nine cities, including Delhi, where vehicular exhaust accounted for 55% of PM2.5 pollution.”The IISc study also arrived at estimates of how much of key pollutants India ejects every year. Carbon monoxide (CO) was at 45 teragrams (Tg); NOx stood at 22.8 Tg, volatile organic compounds (VOC) hit 10.8 Tg, and sulfur dioxide (SO2) was at 15.1 Tg. To put this into perspective, 1 Tg equals one million metric tonnes, which means India’s CO emissions alone weigh as much as 45 million metric tonnes. Vehicle exhaust contributed the most NOx and VOC whereas residential and power sectors were the highest emitters of CO and SO2, respectively,” said Saroj Kumar Sahu, a scientist with the Berhampur University‘s department of environmental science.Despite differences in methodology and scope, both studies aligned in identifying the Indo-Gangetic Plain as a critical pollution hotspot, where conditions worsened due to seasonal stubble burning, dense traffic and biomass use.
The IITM-IIT study found that Greater Mumbai stood out for its high-intensity pollution from multiple sources, recording the highest local PM2.5 levels among western and southern cities, with contributions from industries, residential activities and the energy sector. In western India, parts of Ahmedabad and Vasai Virar had significant industrial contributions to pollution, while energy sources dominated in Surat, Nashik and Nagpur. For instance, industries contributed nearly half of the PM2.5 pollution in Ahmedabad and Greater Mumbai, while the energy sector was the main source in Nashik and Surat, contributing 38-44%.
Indian homes are among the prime contributors to deteriorating air quality in cities and towns alongside pollution by the usual suspects such as the transportation and power sectors, two studies using different methodologies have documented.
The papers, published last month in scientific journals, arrived at the findings by tracking sources of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and emissions from energy use across the urban belt.
Berhampur University in Odisha and Bengaluru’s Indian Institute of Science (IISc) prepared a high-resolution emission inventory for the base year 2020 that shows vehicle fumes as the leading source of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the air, while residential activities account for the majority of carbon monoxide (CO) emissions.A modelling study by Pune’s Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and IIT Roorkee complements these findings. Their analysis of PM2.5 pollution across 53 cities attributes the bulk of emissions to residential fuel use and vehicular exhaust.
- Published On Dec 23, 2024 at 04:05 PM IST
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