case study of air pollution in mumbai

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Mumbai Air Pollution 2022 | Case Study, Essay & Statistics

Whenever there is a discussion on the most polluted cities in India, the usual culprits are Delhi, Patna, Kolkata, and other northern towns. Yes. It is true because the winter season makes the air heavy and more polluted.

Usually, we miss out on coastal cities like Mumbai because the general feeling is that the coastal towns are less polluted. But you are in for a surprise because Mumbai ranks sufficiently high on the world’s top ten most polluted cities.

This graph analyzes the world’s top ten most polluted cities on December 18, 2022, at 17.45 hours. (Source – https://www.iqair.com/in-en/world-air-quality-ranking )

If you feel this is a one-off incident, look at the Mumbai Air Quality Index forecast that displays the air quality index from December 15 to 21, 2022. You will find that the AQI has been consistently rated as unhealthy.

Source – https://www.iqair.com/in-en/india/maharashtra/mumbai

The air quality in Mumbai has been consistently bad in Mumbai throughout 2022. Official figures estimate more than 25,000 deaths in Mumbai in 2022. Besides, air pollution costs a bomb. Air pollution in Mumbai will cost approximately $3.6 billion in 2022.

Source – https://www.iqair.com/in-en/newsroom/cost-of-air-pollution

• Mumbai Air Pollution – 2022 Analysis

Source – https://www.aqi.in/in/dashboard/india/maharashtra/mumbai

An analysis of the above graphical representation provides the following information.

• Overall, Mumbai’s air quality is consistently poor, bordering on unhealthy.
• June to September is the best period in terms of air pollution. The prime reason is that September 2022 was particularly rainy, with the city experiencing copious rainfall.
• The air pollution index was considerably lower throughout the year than in Delhi.
• The summer months of March to May are critical because the AQI breached the Hazardous category frequently.
• The winter months are comparatively milder, but the situation needs improvement.

The Primary Causes of Mumbai Air Pollution

Let us now discuss the primary causes of Mumbai’s air pollution. AQI classifies air pollutants into major categories, like PM2.5, PM10, Ozone, Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen dioxide, and Sulphur dioxide. Here is the graphical representation of the major air pollutants in Mumbai.

• Mumbai’s Unique Geography

Mumbai has a unique geographical distribution. Besides Mumbai city and its suburban area, the geographical limits extend to the neighboring Thane district and Navi Mumbai municipal corporation.

Mumbai city does not have many industrial clusters because they are distributed in specific locations in the suburbs, Thane district, and Navi Mumbai cluster. However, the offices and business centers are located inside city limits. Therefore, people from the suburbs, Thane district, and Navi Mumbai commute to the city to work daily.

Fortunately, most of the population travel to the city by electric local trains. Besides, the metro railway is well spread out inside the city. However, the city’s unique geographical shape increases vehicle density considerably. Reports indicate that Mumbai has 2150 vehicles per kilometer of road. In comparison, the vehicle density in Delhi is five times less. So, vehicular emission is a significant cause of air pollution in Mumbai.

• Vehicular Pollution

With industries usually situated outside Mumbai city limits, vehicular emission is the most significant contributor to Mumbai’s air pollution woes. A study conducted by the System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research shows that the share of vehicular emissions has increased considerably to over 30%, a significant rise from 16% in 2016-17.

Maharashtra’s Economic Survey Report for 2020-21 states that Mumbai accounts for nearly 10.3% of the state’s vehicle registrations. Mumbai has more than 40 lakh vehicles comprising around 24 lakh two-wheelers and 12 lakh private cars. The balance consists of public buses and other vehicles.

Vehicular emission comprises carbon monoxide, PM2.5 and PM10 pollutants, and other toxic gases. We shall discuss particulate matter pollution in the following paragraphs.

PM2.5 constitutes pollutants with a diameter of fewer than 2.5 microns. These particles are so tiny that they can enter our respiratory system and lodge themselves inside our lungs by depositing as a layer over our alveoli. As a result, we can suffer from chronic respiratory problems that can lead to severe lung damage.

This graph details PM2.5 levels in Mumbai’s air over a month from November 19, 2022.

While global standards stipulate PM2.5 levels over 5 µg/m 3 as unsafe, anything up to 35 µg/m 3 is considered standard. In contrast, the Indian CPCB prescribes PM2.5 levels up to 40 µg/m 3 as permissible. Unfortunately, the graph shows that Mumbai’s PM2.5 levels for the past month have been consistently more than 50 µg/m 3 . So, this does not point toward a healthy situation.

PM10 pollutants are comparatively larger than PM2.5 as they constitute pollutants up to 10 microns in diameter. These particles can enter the respiratory system but do not enter the lungs. However, they can line up the windpipe and nasal cavity to cause sufficient damage.

PM10 pollutants are generally found in dust and smoke. Inhaling these pollutants can cause respiratory problems like asthma and COPD. However, these particles only remain in the air for a few minutes to a couple of hours. Let us look at the graphical representation of PM10 pollutants in Mumbai’s air.

The World Health Organization’s safe standard for PM10 pollutants in the air is 15 µg/m 3 . CPCB’s annual average permissible limits are 60 µg/m 3 . But, Mumbai’s air consistently contains PM10 pollutant levels of more than 150. That takes Mumbai’s air quality into the ‘Poor Quality’ band, bordering on the ‘Unhealthy.’

Is PM10 worse than PM2.5?

US Environmental Protection Agency says that exposure to particulate pollution directly impacts human health. The smaller the pollutant, the more dangerous it is. The ill effects of inhaling particulate matter include cardiovascular problems and respiratory issues like bronchitis and asthma.

Much depends on the particulate matter size. So PM2.5 poses the most significant risk because it includes less than 2.5 microns of particulate matter. These particles can penetrate your lungs and even enter the bloodstream. In contrast, PM10 pollutants cause less concern. But they can enter the throat, eyes, and nose to irritate.

Ozone is not much of an issue in Mumbai because it is a coastal city, and people are used to its ozone levels. However, ozone is more harmful in the summer than in the colder rainy and winter seasons. That explains why the Mumbai air is more polluted from March to June every year.

Besides, Mumbai does not experience stagnant air situations. The cool breeze from the sea during the evenings does not allow the ozone to settle at ground levels. Hence, ozone cannot be considered a primary air pollution source in Mumbai. However, the position can worsen in summer when the sun’s rays fall directly to the ground.

This graph shows that the ozone pollution level in the last month is not of much concern. The ozone levels are consistently below 50 µg/m 3 , whereas the WHO guidelines stipulate safe ozone levels up to 100 µg/m 3 .

• Other Industrial Gases

Mumbai has few industries, but the industrial belt is in the suburbs and neighboring Thane and Raigad districts. As a result, industrial emissions from these factories contribute much to Mumbai’s air pollution woes.

Industries situated in Taloja Industrial Estate, Ambernath, Dombivli, Wagle Industrial Estate, Patalganga, Mira-Bhayandar belt, Marol, and Kalyan-Bhiwandi belt are the prime culprits in polluting Mumbai’s air quality. The Center for Science and Environment (CSE) Study shows that these industries emit toxic gases like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides to add to the pollution levels.

The report highlights that the key industries operating in the industrial belts are gradually turning Mumbai into a pressure-cooker situation like in Delhi. This graphical representation depicts the various polluting sectors as follows.

https://www.firstpost.com/india/mumbai-air-polluted-largely-by-coal-powered-industry-better-tech-and-infrastructure-needed-cse-report-9323941.html

The primary reason for air pollution is that industries use coal as fuel. Statistics say that nearly 35% of industries use coal as fuel, 16% use agro-based residues, and around 8% use PNG. The average coal consumption is approximately two million tonnes annually. Thus, carbon monoxide is a critical air pollutant in these industrial belts near Mumbai.

• Dust Pollution

A National Environmental Engineering Institute (NEERI) study showed that 71% of PM10 pollution in Mumbai’s air is because of road dust. Road dust includes minute solid particles generated during the processing and handling of road-building and construction materials, including gravel and cement.

The NEERI report says that 45% of road dust comes from unpaved roads, whereas paved roads contribute 26% to the dust load. Construction activities account for 8%, and vehicles contribute 3%. The balance comes from various sources, like open eateries, bakeries, crematoriums, aircraft, and marine vessels.

• Power Plants and Garbage burning

The areas around Chembur have many refineries. Besides, the Tata Power Plant in Turbhe is also a significant source of air pollution in Mumbai. The indiscriminate use of coal as fuel results in toxic emissions comprising gases like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide.

Reports state that these refineries in the Chembur and Mahul areas near Mumbai are hotspots for air pollution. Besides, the neighborhoods near Deonar and Mankhurd have massive garbage dumps. People regularly burn garbage that lets out toxic fumes to pollute the nearby areas. The breeze carries the smoke right over Navi Mumbai, Panvel, and the neighboring Raigad district.

• Population Expansion

Mumbai is always considered the land of dreams. Lakhs of people come to Mumbai every day in search of better fortune. The beauty of Mumbai is that it welcomes everyone. Besides, people settling down in the city do not like to leave it. As a result, Mumbai is bursting at its seams.

The cost of real estate in Mumbai is massive. Therefore, Mumbai sees slums proliferating everywhere. Dharavi has a reputation for being the most extensive slum area in the world. Slums bring problems, such as poor access to water and sanitation systems, poor health, lack of education, and, most importantly, air pollution.

People living in slums usually do not have access to quality fuel. So they rely on coal and other organic materials for fuel, adding to air pollution. Besides affecting the slum dwellers, the smoke emitting from these stoves spreads into the air and affects other residential areas.

• Climatic Conditions

Have you ever heard of a dust storm in Mumbai? If it were Sharjah or Dubai, you could expect dust storms, but Mumbai witnessed three dust storms in January and February 2022. Besides exacerbating Mumbai’s air pollution, these dust storms reduced visibility to low levels.

The reason for these dust storms is attributed to human-inflicted global warming and pollution. In addition, these dust storms coincided with the dust storms emanating from Pakistan and Afghanistan borders, suggesting that they could become a regular feature in the future.

These dust storms were critical in deteriorating Mumbai’s AQI and took it above Delhi levels. Thus, it raised the debate whether Mumbai’s air quality is worse than that of Delhi.

• Is Mumbai’s air quality worse than that of Delhi’s?                        

When you compare Mumbai’s air pollution with that of Delhi, you can see that Delhi’s air is worse than that of Mumbai. This comparison should prove the point. We consider real-time figures for Mumbai and Delhi on December 21, 2022, at around 9.15 am.

The comparison shows that Mumbai’s air quality is better than Delhi’s. However, there is no reason to rejoice because Mumbai’s air is still unhealthy, mainly because the PM2.5 concentration in PM10 is higher in Mumbai than in Delhi.

Let us compare the average AQI of Mumbai and Delhi for seven days from December 18 to December 24, 2022. Both cities have highly polluted air, with Delhi being worse than Mumbai.

These statistics should shut out the debate about whether Mumbai’s air quality is worse or better than Delhi’s. Now, let us discuss how Mumbai fares in air pollution statistics compared to other prominent Indian cities like Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. We leave out the northern towns, especially in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, because these cities are fit for comparing with Delhi, and not Mumbai.

• How does Mumbai compare with other top Indian cities?

These statistics should put things into proper perspective. We have relied on actual figures from official sources.

These statistics show that Mumbai is far less polluted than Kolkata. But, compared to the southern metros, Mumbai has higher air pollution levels. Bangalore is the best city among these prominent metros.

Let us discuss the relative AQI positions of these five metros for December 18, 2022, to December 24, 2022. We have considered real-time data from the website https://www.iqair.com/in-en/india/ .

The comparison shows that Chennai and Bengaluru are less polluted than Mumbai, whereas Hyderabad is more or less equal to Mumbai. Kolkata has comparatively higher air pollution levels than all the other cities discussed here.

• How does Mumbai’s air pollution affect its residents?

Mumbai’s industrial areas are spread over its suburbs and neighboring Thane and Raigad districts. The maximum industrial belt concentration is in Wagle Industrial Estate, Chembur, Turbhe, Dombivli, Ambernath, Ulhasnagar, Badlapur, Mira-Bhayandar belt, and Panvel-Patalganga belt. These industries spew maximum amounts of nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide gases.

Burning fossil fuels, like coal and oil, is primarily responsible for high sulfur dioxide levels in Mumbai’s air. Besides, vehicular emissions in these areas are responsible for nitrogen dioxide and dust pollution.

So, Mumbai residents live in gas chamber-like conditions. As a result, respiratory diseases are common. The long-term effects of inhaling polluted air include bronchitis, asthma, COPD, and other respiratory problems among children and older adults.  

Besides, Mumbai residents living near these industries suffer from skin problems because of the absorption of industrial effluents through the skin. Other health issues include dyspnea, intermittent cough, cardiac disorders, and high blood pressure. Lung cancer and premature deaths are other common risks of breathing polluted air. 

• Mumbai Air Pollution – Diseases and Death Statistics
• A global study estimated that Mumbai witnessed nearly 25,000 deaths from air pollution in 2020. The figure was second only to Delhi, which experienced 54,000 deaths.

Source – Greenpeace Southeast Asia Report on Air Pollution

• An independent study shows that nearly 100,000 people die prematurely from polluted air exposure in Indian cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Surat, and Pune.
• The PM2.5-linked mortality rate in Mumbai is the highest among South Asian cities, at 46%. In comparison, Delhi ranked second at 39%. Kolkata gets the third rank among Indian towns at 23%. Other metros like Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru fared much better. 
• The Diwali Connection

Does Diwali have any connection with Mumbai air pollution? As it is, Mumbai’s air is polluted and falls in the ‘Poor’ category. Diwali, the festival of lights and crackers, exacerbates air pollution levels and takes it to the ‘Very Poor’ category. Mumbai’s air quality post-Diwali has consistently shown a decline in its quality.

Mumbai’s AQI was the worst this Diwali, with the figure touching 320. The night before Diwali, the AQI was 149. So, it jumped from the ‘Moderate’ category to ‘Very Poor’ in just one night. The prime reason was pollution because of bursting crackers during Diwali.

People can argue that Diwali is an annual festival that comes once a year. Besides, people across all religions celebrate Diwali. However, they should also note that air pollution is critical. Indeed, there must be better ways of celebrating Diwali than bursting crackers and polluting the air.

2019, 2020, and 2021 AQI figures were low because of continuous rain during Diwali. This year, the monsoon had withdrawn entirely from Mumbai before Diwali. Besides, 2020 and 2021 were COVID years, and the celebrations were subdued. 2022 was the first year people celebrated Diwali extensively after COVID.  

• Mumbai Air Pollution – Pre and Post-COVID-19 period

COVID-19 will go down in history as one of the worst diseases that caused innumerable casualties worldwide. Mumbai experienced the most significant brunt of COVID and witnessed the maximum number of deaths. But one can search for the positives even in the worst of circumstances. For example, COVID-19 lockdowns helped reduce air pollution considerably in Mumbai, Delhi, and throughout India.

• The PM2.5 levels in Mumbai before the lockdown (March 24, 2020, to May 31, 2020) ranged from 60 µg/m 3 to 120 µg/m 3 . During the lockdown, it declined to between 10 µg/m 3 and 40 µg/m 3 in various wards in Mumbai. The figures in June 2020 were between 10 µg/m 3 to 24 µg/m 3 , indicating that the lockdown positively reduced air pollution. The primary reason was drastically-reduced vehicular movement.

Source – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935121003467

• Similarly, PM10 levels in Mumbai before the lockdown were 225 µg/m 3 . However, within four days of the lockdown, it dropped to 60 µg/m 3 .
• Similar drops in levels were witnessed in other pollutants, including ozone, nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and other gases.

As a result, the overall NAQI in Mumbai witnessed a steep drop from March 2020 to June 2020. However, the joy of breathing pure air was short-lived because the NAQI regained its high levels after September 2020.

Source – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935121003467               

However, COVID-19 proved disastrous for people with respiratory problems like asthma and bronchitis. So, COVID-19 supplemented air pollution, hastening their deaths, and resulting in many premature casualties.

• How has the municipal administration tackled Mumbai air pollution?

The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has confirmed that the BMC is taking steps to create green buffers along traffic corridors. BMC has plans to blacktop metaled roles to reduce dust pollution. Around 364 green traffic islands are being constructed across the city as dust traps.

The 15 th Finance Commission has sanctioned Rs 1,240 crores towards addressing air pollution in Mumbai. The municipal administration has allocated Rs 99.22 crores (8%) towards dust mitigation. 80% of the funds (Rs 992) is allotted to public transport electrification under the Maharashtra Electric Vehicle Policy 2025.

The Maharashtra Government has formulated a Graded Response Action Plan similar to the one planned by the Delhi Government to combat air pollution. Such a plan is invariable in cities that consistently fail to meet NAAQ standards for PM10 and nitrogen dioxide pollution. The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) visualized this plan with the BMC and planned to implement it throughout Mumbai and its suburbs.

The GRAP categorizes areas depending on the air quality index and plans to act accordingly in the following manner.

However, the GRAP has yet to see much success in Delhi and its neighboring areas like Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Noida, Sonepat, and other places where the pollution levels continue to deteriorate.

• Steps to take to improve the air quality in Mumbai – Individual Level

One must expect the Government to take steps to curb air pollution. But citizens, too, have a massive role to play. Though the BMC has started its work in earnest, Mumbai citizens should take responsibility. Here are some things they should do.

• Individuals should avoid traveling in private cars to the office. Instead, they can use electric trains and public transport.
• People can resort to carpooling. So if four car owners come together and start pooling, they reduce three cars on the roads. So, avoid traveling during peak hours.
• Avoid using mosquito and other insect repellants.
• Switch off your car and two-wheeler ignition keys at traffic signals if you sense a long wait exceeding 15 seconds.
•  Refrain from burning leaves, paper, plastic, and other waste materials.
• Use masks whenever you move out of your home.
• Close your home’s doors and windows if any construction activity is happening in the neighborhood.
• Attend seminars and participate in programs creating awareness of air pollution.
• Refrain from smoking cigarettes and undergo lung function tests regularly.
• Turn off electrical devices if not in use. It helps conserve energy and protects the environment.
• Plant as many trees as you can to restore the lost forest cover that Mumbai had in olden times.
• Use solar power to generate electricity for your homes. It will reduce the dependence on state-supplied electricity.
• Invest in energy-efficient appliances. Please go for reusable products as much as possible.
• Refuse to accept plastic bags from shopkeepers. Instead, take a cloth bag with you.
• Use rechargeable batteries for devices you use frequently.
• Service your vehicles on time.
• Note the AQI every day by installing the smartphone app on your phone. It helps you know the pollution in your area. Besides, this app provides information about highly polluted areas in your city. So you can avoid visiting such places.
• If possible, use an air purifier at home.
• Refrain from bursting firecrackers on all occasions. It includes Diwali. There must be better ways of celebrating Diwali rather than bursting crackers.
• What should Mumbai do to avoid going the Delhi way?

Mumbai can do the following things to prevent going the Delhi way.

• Install a sensor-based monitoring system that can calculate air quality within a radius of three km around it. A prototype design has been made by the students of the University of Newcastle and is available for Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000.
• Beijing is already using such sensors by placing them atop light poles to monitor air quality.
• This system comprises two sensors, a chemical gas sensor and an optical gas sensor. The chemical gas sensor measures the concentration of toxic gases, whereas the optical gas sensor measures PM2.5 and PM10 pollutants.
• Mumbai had a beautiful forest cover in the olden days. Today, a significant portion of the forest is non-existent. Mumbai residents can plant trees and try to restore as much green cover as possible.
• The Mumbai administration should tighten emission norms for industrial sectors. Besides, it should encourage them to go for low-emission fuel.
• Mumbai should encourage electric vehicles. First, they should scrap vehicles with BS-IV and lower-level engines immediately. Then, they can start with commercial vehicles, followed by private cars.
• Ways to tackle dust pollution

Dust is a localized problem. Therefore, the tactics that work in Delhi may not work in Mumbai. However, Mumbai has an advantage because of its extensive coastal presence. The air flowing from the sea helps sweep the dust away.

The Maharashtra Government earmarked 8% of its total budget of Clean Air Funds, amounting to Rs 99.22 crores out of Rs 1240 crores towards dust mitigation. It also allotted 80% of the funds (Rs 992 crores) toward the electrification of Mumbai’s public transport system.

One solution to tackle road dust is to build better roads that do not require revamping. For example, the Bandra-Worli Sea Link is a high-quality road. The solution is to make more such roads.

Mechanical dust-sweeping machines worked well in Delhi. The Mumbai municipal administration can try out this solution. Another solution is using chemical dust suppressants that make the dust particles heavier and prevent them from spreading into the air.

Converting non-paved roadsides into tiled pavements is a good solution. Similarly, greening road medians and traffic islands help bind the soil together because they act as dust traps. Additives like calcium chloride, lignin sulfonate, or bio-polymers can improve soil moisture content and make it resistant to erosion.

Delhi has implemented speed restrictions, anti-smog guns, and giant-sized vacuum cleaners. Mumbai does not require such drastic measures. However, dust-sweeping machines can prove beneficial. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to extend the use of these machines from the present 253 km of city roads to the entire 2000+ km vast road network.

• How does Mumbai’s air pollution level compare with ISO standards?

The World Health Organization lists the updated guidelines about annual average concentrations of air pollutants. Let us see how Mumbai fares in comparison.

• Frequently Asked Questions – Mumbai Air Pollution

No. Though the Mumbai air quality is poor, it is not uniformly bad throughout the city and its suburbs. For example, on December 22, 2022, Bandra-Kurla Complex had an AQI of 247, whereas Worli had 155. So, much depends on the localized pollution.

The summer season between March and June sees the worst air pollution in Mumbai. Conversely, the monsoon season from July to September is the least polluted season in Mumbai.

We advise you to close your windows and doors, especially if you live in areas like Chembur, Sion-Dharavi, Turbhe, Deonar, etc., where there is high air pollution. You can invest in indoor air purifiers. However, if you reside in less polluted areas near the coastline, you can keep your house well-ventilated to allow unrestricted airflow.

Yes. With the COVID-19 threat still not eliminated from the city, everyone should wear masks in Mumbai. We advise using good-quality masks like N95 masks to reduce the chances of inhaling contaminated air.

Mumbai lost its green cover by 40% between 1991 and 2022 because of rampant modernization and construction activities. Besides, Mumbai lost 30% of its water bodies. All these factors also contributed to the deteriorating quality of Mumbai’s air.

Mumbai is the most car-congested city in India. Though Delhi has more cars than Mumbai, the car density is the highest in Mumbai.

Vehicular emission is the prime cause of Mumbai’s air pollution. Though most Mumbai residents travel by electric trains, the city has the highest car density in the country. Studies show that most cars have single occupants. So if three or four people share a car through carpooling, it can reduce the car density on the roads and lead to lower vehicular emissions. Thus, it can help tackle air pollution.

Studies show that continuous exposure to PM2.5 pollutants has reduced the average lifespan of Mumbai citizens by 3.7 years.

Mahul has the highest number of refineries and the maximum toxic gas emissions in Mumbai. As a result, people residing in Mahul suffer from severe respiratory ailments from inhaling poisonous air daily. It is equivalent to living in a gas chamber.

Yes. Mumbai has lost substantial green cover over the past four decades. So planting trees is the only way of restoring the green cover and reducing air pollution in Mumbai.

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The City that Chokes: How Mumbai is handling air pollution, which has more than doubled over 5 years

Authorities in Mumbai have announced measures to curb air pollution, which has taken a serious toll on the air quality index. Fitting vehicle-mounted air filters on buses, setting up virtual chimneys at traffic congestion spots, and installing air purification systems are some of the steps

Like Delhi, Mumbai too is choking.

Rapid construction, burning trash, and congestion have taken a serious toll on Mumbai’s air quality, with smog and haze hovering over the city skies.

The city authorities have announced measures to curb air pollution, which has already triggered several health issues like persistent dry cough, throat infection, and breathing difficulties.

Let’s take a look.

Worsening air pollution in Mumbai

According to Mid-Day , the air quality index (AQI) of the financial capital was reported to be in the “moderate” category.

The report says the AQI data analysed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) revealed that out of the total 23 stations in Mumbai, Chembur, Colaba, Kherwai, Mulund (West) and Sion recorded  “poor” air quality today with AQI at 220, 223, 218, 234, and 219 respectively.

Yesterday, the city’s AQI stood at 152 in the “moderate” category.

A study has indicated that over the past five years, the city’s air quality in October has likewise steadily declined.

In Mumbai, the amount of pollutants has doubled between 2019 and 2023. The city is seeing an increase in the highly harmful particulate matter (PM) 2.5, according to a report from the climate-tech start-up Respirer Living Sciences .

PM2.5 increased by 54.2 per cent between 2019 and 2020. It then somewhat decreased by three per cent in 2021 and 0.9 per cent in 2022, before rising by 42.1 percent in 2023.

Technological steps to curb air pollution

The city authorities have drawn up a detailed plan to combat pollution.

According to PTI , 350 buses of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) will be fitted with “vehicle mounted filters” in phases for the removal of impurities from dust and other particles.

“Initially, these detachable air filters will be fitted on 150 buses of BEST and later on 200 more buses,” Mumbai district guardian minister Deepak Kesarkar said.

The city’s public transport system has also made substantial progress towards cleaner fuel options. Notably, the BEST plans to achieve 100 per cent clean fuel usage by the next year. Currently, 68 per cent of the buses are CNG-powered, 14 per cent are electric, and only 18 per cent run on diesel.

Virtual chimneys will be installed at 10 spots of high traffic congestion in Mumbai. “These chimneys will do filtration in huge amounts,

A streetlight named “Vayu” will be installed with the objective of air purification at 50 locations.

“An air purification system will be installed on a trial basis in six gardens, including the diamond garden and one in Chembur, Shivaji Park, Rani Baug in Byculla, SK Patil garden in Marine Lines and Bhakti Park garden in Wadala,” the minister said.

“IIT (Bombay) has identified various companies and technology offered by them is used on a trial basis in Mumbai. The technology which proves effective in reducing pollution will be given priority. We have identified six technologies, including vehicles-mounted air filters,” he told reporters.

He added that the Maharashtra Environment Department is monitoring the use of technologies besides the Mumbai civic chief.

Other measures taken

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has ordered 30 vehicles mounted with sprinklers, also called fog cannons.

Notices have been served to readymix concrete units, reported PTI .

Industries have been directed to increase the height of chimneys, said Mumbai district guardian minister Deepak Kesarkar.

On 25 October, the city’s civic body issued several measures, including to ensure that at least 35 feet high tin or metal sheets are erected around the periphery of construction projects having a height of more than 70 metres.

Around 6,000 sites in Mumbai are witnessing construction currently, as per PTI . “At all these places (where construction is going on) dust- and pollution-control measures should be implemented. Else, construction will be stopped, be it private or government work,” the BMC had said in a release several days ago.

Kesarkar said the civic body has given a 15-day deadline for taking prohibitory action for curbing pollution and a 30-day time frame for purchasing machinery.

“The air quality will certainly improve in this period,” he added.

No ban on firecrackers

Kesarkar said there won’t be a ban on bursting crackers but citizens should use their discretion and burst fewer crackers.

“At places like Delhi, there is a 100 per cent ban on bursting of crackers. We should think that if fewer crackers are burst there will be more happiness and there won’t be a ban,” he said.

Moreover, the BCCI has restricted the use of fireworks during cricket World Cup matches in Mumbai and Delhi due to the deteriorating air quality.

Mumbai is scheduled to host two more league games, today and on 7 November, and the semifinal on 15 November.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah in a statement on Wednesday said, “BCCI is sensitive to environmental concers. I took up the matter formally with the ICC and there won’t be any fireworks display in Mumbai, which can add to the pollution level.”

Bombay HC takes suo motu action

On Tuesday, the Bombay High Court took suo motu (on its own) cognizance of the matter and voiced worry over the “deteriorating” AQI in Mumbai and the surrounding areas.

“What is crucial is that no steps have been taken to create/issue necessary health advisories as also to raise awareness amongst citizens so as to best safeguard themselves from deleterious levels of AQI presently prevailing in Mumbai,” TOI quoted it as saying while expressing disapproval at the lack of initiatives to increase public awareness.

“This factor needs immediate attention,” said a bench, which consisted of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Arif Doctor.

Three residents, Amar Tike, Anand Jha, and Sanjay Surve, brought the issue of air pollution to the attention of the HC in a PIL, asking for instructions to be sent to the BMC and the state to take prompt action to reduce it in Mumbai.

The HC will hear the PIL on 6 November.

Situation in other cities no better

PM2.5 levels in Delhi increased by 32 per cent between 2019 and 2020, dropped by 43.7 per cent in 2021, and then steadily increased in 2022 and 2023. However, the peak pollution season, which is usually associated with Diwali, is still far off, according to the report by Respirer Living Sciences.

A few more days of “very poor” air quality are predicted for several areas of the city, where the air quality has deteriorated to the “severe” level.

In Hyderabad, PM2.5 rose by 59 per cent between 2019 and 2020, decreased by 2.9 per cent in 2021, and then soared by 29.1 per cent in 2022. It increased by 18.6 per cent this year.

Kolkata, however, defied the general trend in a little way, with PM2.5 levels rising by 51.7 per cent in 2021 after falling by 26.7 per cent in 2019 and 2020. It decreased by 33.1 per cent in 2022 but increased by 40.2 per cent this year.

Unexpectedly, the PM2.5 levels in four state capitals — Lucknow, Patna, Bengaluru, and Chennai — dropped this year compared to previous.

Chennai experienced the largest decline, at 23.7 per cent, followed by Bengaluru (11.6 per cent), Patna (11.1 per cent), and Lucknow (0.9 per cent).

With inputs from agencies

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‘For Mumbai pollution, construction dust, unfavourable meteorology obvious culprits but can't rule out climate change’

IIT Bombay environmental scientist Abhishek Chakraborty on how warming may have caused smog & why bettter planning is needed for policymaking

By Preetha Banerjee

Published: friday 03 november 2023.

The city’s overall air quality index (AQI) was 171, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research data, a few points short of slipping into the ‘poor’ category. This was worse than the AQI of the previous couple of days.

The city’s PM2.5 concentration on Friday was about 17 times the safe value recommended by the World Health Organization, according to IQAir, a Swiss air quality information platform.

But this is not the first time Mumbai experienced a period of unhealthy air quality. Mumbai's PM2.5 concentration has more than doubled this year compared to 2019, a new report showed.

This is despite the vast Arabian sea that surrounds the city on three sides, orchestrating a system of moist breezes that can cleanse the onshore air, and the lush green hill stations just a few hours away, where the air quality is significantly better.

So, what has caused the coastal city that so far didn't have to worry about winter pollution, to gasp for breath the past few years?

Like Delhi, Mumbai’s civic authorities have also rolled out a slew of measures to ease the pain for residents. For instance, they aim to fit 350 BEST buses with vehicle-mounted air filters, set up “virtual chimneys at traffic congestion spots, special streetlights and air purification systems in select gardens”, according to a report in the newspaper The Times of India.

But how effective are these? Just as much as a bandage is on a bullet wound, said Abhishek Chakraborty , assistant professor in the environmental engineering department of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay).

Down To Earth spoke to the scientist, who has been working on source apportionment of environmental pollution, real-time air pollution monitoring and control strategies, to understand what has caused the haze in Mumbai and what can be done to improve the air quality.

His immediate prescription: Data gaps in the national emissions and air quality databases need to be fixed and scientific modelling should precede any policy decision to control pollution, so that funds are not wasted. Edited excerpts:

Preetha Banerjee: What is causing the smog in Mumbai?

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Taking on a burning problem: Mumbai's air pollution

Expert speak terra nova, published on nov 27, 2021.

While much focus is given to North India’s air pollution crisis, Mumbai must now wait till there is a health emergency to act on its rising air pollution levels

This article is part of the series  Colaba Edit 2021 .

Emissions and pollution have been more of a burning concern in recent years, especially in the wake of the pandemic, which saw a large number of people succumb to a virus because their compromised respiratory systems couldn't handle the strain. Furthermore, during the second wave, studies found a strong link between district-level air pollution statistics and COVID-19 cases , with locations using more fossil fuels falling prey to more cases.

While we assume that infections and dubious lifestyle choices were at the root of respiratory illnesses, toxic particulate matter found in today's air pose greater harm than a cigarette .

Air pollution can no longer be dismissed as a localised concern , particularly in the landlocked north Indian cities, which accounts for the majority of information indicating the problem's significance. Instead, the problem must be handled before it turns into a public health emergency .

Owing to its industrial expanse and strong fossil fuel reliance, the Mumbai region constitutes a large airshed for western India. The city’s financial clout, accessible resources, and vast population build a strong impetus for Maharashtra's government to bear a large share of the burden of reducing emissions for Mumbai.

​Air pollution causes 13 deaths per minute worldwide, and poses a severe threat to Mumbai's health, with a Swiss air quality organisation IQAir highlighting US $2.9 billion in losses and 20,000 fatalities due to ambient air pollution in 2020-21.  

Variability in pollutant concentrations, hotspots  

A startling comparison came to light in 2019 when the Union Earth Sciences Ministry's System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research revealed that the concentration of finer PM2.5 particles in the overall PM10 concentration was much higher in Mumbai than in Delhi , implying that while the air in Mumbai may not be as polluted, the impact on human health may be greater.

During a vulnerability assessment for the Mumbai Climate Action Plan during the previous two years, the World Resources Institute India found that Deonar , Govandi, Mankhurd, and Trombay areas in M (East) ward consistently recorded the highest pollution levels, followed by Mahul , Chembur in M (West) ward, and F (North), including Antop Hill, Sion, and Ghatkopar. While particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were identified as primary pollutants, much above national and international safety standards, these showed fluctuations.

Four key sectoral challenges and potential solutions

In Mumbai, traffic emissions, construction operations, paved and unpaved road dust, landfills, open rubbish burning, and industrial emissions are among the major sources of pollution .

Traffic and industry Emissions  

Road travel accounts for 80 percent of Mumbai's fossil fuel emissions . More pollution under control (PUC) centres must inspect automobiles every six to seven months. Ideally, a scrappage policy of older vehicles will ensure a shift towards cleaner fuels, increased use of non-motorised transport and electric vehicles through the state’s new robust policy powered by renewable energy. Industries, with the power sector contributing to 71 percent of Mumbai’s greenhouse gas emissions , should also make the shift to cleaner fuel by phasing out older powerplants , and treating their emissions as per standards laid down by the Centre.

Rampant realty and road construction activities as a result of the population boom account for over 71 percent of particulate matter in Mumbai's air, up from 28 percent in 2010. To mitigate this ever-growing problem, the first step could be stringent enforcement of the Construction & Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016 , which mandates a safe and effective construction waste disposal system. For spreading information on bad air quality, a construction site-specific Air Quality Monitoring Plan is required.

Waste Management  

Dumping grounds are a massive problem for Mumbai, especially because there is rampant burning of waste, which pollutes the air . While there have been site-specific drives at the ward, neighbourhood and community levels against indiscriminate incineration of garbage and crop residue, it is important to develop ward-level action plans to prevent open-waste burning. The government should recruit more manpower to drive the message home because remote pockets of the city still lack education on waste management. Authorities must create a plan that outlines essential wards with high levels of particulate matter in the air, as well as garbage segregation, transportation, and recycling that is environmentally beneficial.  

The Action Plan

For a densely populated city like Mumbai, air pollution is a larger threat because the density per square kilometre runs high and toxic air in one place can be a problem for a large number of people. It is important for sub-city level authorities to always stay alert to changes in pollutant strains, atmospheric composition and sources of air pollution. The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has been a key driver in framing air pollution policies. While it is effective, it suffers from a lack of manpower . The first step is replenishing the forces for a level playing field.

Secondly, air quality monitoring needs to become robust and regular, with real-time updates about the critical air pockets and sources of pollution along with health information . Data dissemination should be quick, sorted, combed through and effective so that analysis becomes easier for mitigation and policymaking. Higher manpower will also ensure that there are more awareness campaigns across the city, from popular squares to the more difficult-to-navigate slums.

Thirdly, emission norms for industrial sectors should be tightened. Factory smoke should be treated before it is discharged into the air . Both factories and vehicles should aim towards using low-emission fuel. Vehicles below the BS-IV level of engines should be scrapped with immediate effect. This is a mammoth task unless there are regular follow-ups.

Higher manpower will also ensure that there are more awareness campaigns across the city, from popular squares to the more difficult-to-navigate slums.

Lastly, a very important step is to be inclusive and involve everyone in the decision-making step. The government can form a city-level committee under the National Clean Air Program   Mumbai Clean Air Action Plan , including citizen stakeholders and experts from civil society. The inputs from the committee and collectives can be taken into consideration while addressing different sources of air pollution.  

In conclusion  

Reduced levels of pollutants in the atmosphere would improve the health of most city residents , but the impact would be greatest among low-income people, informal communities (residents and workers), migrant labourers, and outdoor workers, who are most exposed to the harmful effects of ambient air pollution.

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PM(10) and its impacts on health - a case study in Mumbai

Affiliation.

• 1 Institute of Science, Mumbai, India. [email protected]
• PMID: 12745340
• DOI: 10.1080/0960312031000098107

Air pollution in urban areas is a major health concern. Air pollution in cities has been linked to increased rates of mortality and morbidity in developed and developing countries. There is consistent evidence that the levels of fine particulate matter in the air are associated with risk of death from all causes of cardiovascular and respiratory illness. The present study predicts the health impact due to PM(10) (respirable particulate matter) in an industrial, residential and commercial area of Mumbai city. The estimates of the impacts on health is mainly based on Ostro's approach.

• Air Pollutants / adverse effects*
• Cardiovascular Diseases / etiology
• Cardiovascular Diseases / mortality*
• Child, Preschool
• Epidemiologic Studies
• Forecasting
• India / epidemiology
• Infant, Newborn
• Life Expectancy
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Media Resource Centre > Press Releases

Mumbai’s air becoming more foul -- industrial clusters could be a major culprit, says new cse analysis, php if (empty($dataarray['content_publised_at'])) { echo date('f d, y', strtotime($dataarray['content_publised_at'])); } >.

CSE study assesses pollution contribution from four major clusters -- Trans-Thane Creek (TTC), Taloja, Ambernath and Dombivali  

Massive coal use in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) could be a key reason for the deteriorating air quality – every year, 2 million tonnes of coal is burnt here  

Study finds TTC to be the leading pollution hotspot, contributing about 44 per cent of the total load. Dombivali residents have been found suffer the maximum exposure to pollution  

Clean fuel policy is the need of the hour for Mumbai – say CSE experts. Inaction may lead to Mumbai’s air turningas toxic as Delhi’s, they warn  

To access the CSE study Click here

New Delhi, February 15, 2021:  Use of coal in industries of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) might be a major factor affecting the air quality of Mumbai and its surrounding areas -- finds a new research by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The study has analysed and estimated the air pollution load from various industrial sectors in the major industrial areas of MMR. 

The study was released here today at a webinar organised by CSE, which was addressed by some key experts (besides CSE researchers): Dr V M Motghare, joint director (air pollution control), Maharashtra State Pollution Control Board; S B Patil, advisor, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation; Rajiv Aundhe, industry expert; and SachinGhuge, chief manager-HSE, Mahanagar Gas Ltd. 

For the webinar proceedings Click here

Out of the 13 industrial areas bordering Mumbai, CSE has done an in-depth assessment of four – Trans-Thane Creek (TTC), Taloja, Ambernath and Dombivali.These four areas cover about 70 percent of the industries operating in the MMR. 

Apart from this, an indicative ambient air quality monitoring for particulate matter was also conducted in all the industrial areas. This monitoring was designed to capture local exposure. 

Out of the four regions studied, TTC was found to be a major pollution hotspot contributing about 44 percent of the total load from the studied areas;the Taloja Industrial Area followed, with a contribution of about 26 percent. 

“Mumbai is a coastal region and is, hence, not expected to have very high levels of pollution. But with rapid industrial and infrastructural development, the air quality of the region has started deteriorating. The city needs to wake up and take corrective actions, to avoid turning into a pollution pressure-cooker like Delhi,” says Nivit Kumar Yadav, programme director, industrial pollution unit, CSE. 

What did the CSE study find?

The study has assessed the polluting industries of the region using information related to type of fuel, its consumption, type of combustion equipment etc. The key findings of the report are:  

Medium and small-scale enterprises (MSMEs) are a major contributor to the pollution: The Comprehensive Environment Pollution Index (CEPI) assessments have identified three locations in the MMR as ‘critically polluted areas’ -- Chembur, Dombivali and Navi Mumbai. However, the CSE study finds that emissions from these units are controlled as the norms for large industrial sectors are more stringent compared to that for MSMEs. 

The TTC industrial cluster is the most polluting of all:  The TTC accounts for about 44 per cent of the total industrial pollution load of the four areas studied by CSE. “The reasons behind the high pollution levels could be the use of dirty fuels like coal and furnace oil,” says Yadav. The TTC industrial area has the highest consumption of coal, accounting for nearly 60 percent of the coal consumed in the areas studied. 

MMR’s chemical industries sector is a major polluter: The chemical sector has the highest contribution in the pollution load (nearly 72 per cent) in this region. It is a fuel-intensive industry – with total usage of all types of fuel ranging at about 3.1 million tonnes per annum. 

Dombivaliresidents suffer the maximum exposure to pollution: CSE’s indicative monitoring of particulate matter, designed to capture local exposure, found that the Patalganga industrial area in Navi Mumbai (near Panvel) has the lowest exposure, whereas Dombivali has the highest. Poor road infrastructure, high levels of uncontrolled pollution from the surrounding industries, etc could be the reasonsfor Dombivali’s high PM content in its air. 

So what is the way ahead?

Against the backdrop of the challenges outlined for the industrial sector, CSE has developed a comprehensive action plan for the MMR. The highlights:  

Ban coal use, bring clean fuel policy: Considering the scale of dirty fuel usage in MMR’s industrial areas, expedite the fuel shift in industries from conventional polluting fuel (coal, furnace oil, etc) to cleaner and non-polluting fuel (PNG, electricity etc).Introduce a policy to incentivise use of clean fuel. For instance, cleaner fuels like biomass and natural gas need to be less expensive. Removal of VAT on natural gas and inclusion of natural gas under GST would be positive steps.  

Strengthen air quality monitoring and deterrence systems: Continuous monitoring of VOCs in the ambient air is a must in the industrial areas where chemical industries are predominant. Develop an air toxics emissions inventory and control plan for the MMR region. Identify and monitor toxics, as well as assess health risk through exposure modeling. Develop sector-specific pollution assessment study for chemical industries for pollution abatement. A unique strategy of cross-regional inspection as already devised and implemented by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board(MPCB) in Talojacan be replicated in other regions. Inspection of industries should be done by MPCB officersdrawn from other regions. Create a mechanism for penalties for the MSME sector for not installing and using air pollution control devices. 

Improve infrastructure and technology use: Maintain infrastructure and conduct need assessments for development of roads and drainage lines. Provide subsidies for purchase of air pollution control devices (APCD), particularly for small- and medium-scale units. Explore the possibility of a common solvent recovery plant in chemical clusters, and common steam generation units for industrial cluster.  

Modify criteria to push unclean industry out of city limits: Modify non-attainment criteria for cities where industries are located within the city limits. Policy-level intervention is needed in siting of upcoming industrial areas to ensure the presence of adequate buffer zones along the periphery of the industrial areas, so as to clearly demarcate the boundaries of residential and industrial areas.  

For any other details, please contact Sukanya Nair of The CSE Media Resource Centre, [email protected] , 8816818864.

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Clean air plan for Mumbai: Study raises concerns over accountability

The maharashtra pollution control board’s (mpcb’s) clean air action plan for mumbai lists 58 measures across 16 different agencies..

A latest study by think tank Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and air pollution research group Urban Emissions has revealed that the mitigation actions entrusted on multiple state agencies to improve the city’s air quality could fragment accountability.

The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board’s (MPCB’s) clean air action plan for Mumbai lists 58 measures across 16 different agencies. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been accounted for 41% of the activities, while 22% accountability lies with the transport department and the state’s pollution control regulatory body is in-charge of only 20% mitigation actions. The remaining responsibilities have been delineated to the district administrations and urban local bodies.

“Mumbai’s action plan contains information on sources and lists financial requirements for implementations. However, the plan fails to highlight any measures to ensure regional coordination, even though independent estimates suggest that close to a third of the city’s air pollution originates outside city limits,” said Kurinji Selvaraj, research analyst, CEEW.

However, MPCB chairman Sudhir Srivastava said this was not the case.

“Accountability will not be an issue as action plan monitoring committees have been formed for every non-attainment city, which is headed by the municipal commissioner and municipal council head. Committee members include representatives from state agencies. Monthly meetings will help take stock of actions by different stakeholders.”

The Centre’s National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) seeks to reduce particulate matter (PM) concentration by 20-30% by 2024. It identified 18 of 122 non-attainment cities from Maharashtra, the highest across India. Non-attainment cities are those with PM concentration consistently below the national ambient standards. The CEEW-Urban Emissions analysis approved action plans by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for elements responsibility delineation and cost-effectiveness of action plans, among other measures for each city.

The analysis charted out the key components missing from the state’s air action plans, such as none of the 17 approved plans have a legal mandate for implementation, 65% plans had not outlined financial requirements for actions proposed, 70% plans do not include crucial information on air pollution sources and there is no regional coordination mechanism.

Researchers identified key efforts that could help refine action plans and improve accountability.

“Scaling up air pollution monitors, outlining specific tasks for each action point among agencies, fixing sector-wise emission reduction targets and developing a protocol for reporting progress could help meet the rising democratic demand for clean air in Maharashtra,” said Sarath Guttikunda, founder, Urban Emissions.

Srivastava said agencies needed to separately chip in (with resources and funds) for their respective duties assigned as per the plan.

“Dust suppression measures, treatment of construction and demolition waste, open burning of solid waste are all the responsibilities of civic bodies. Traffic management and pollution under control (PUC) checks are looked after by the transport department. Reduction in industrial pollution is MPCB’s outlook. Thus, well-defined targets for each agency will enhance accountability,” he said.

CPCB has published the plans of all non-attainment cities in the state except Thane, the study said.

“The action plan for Thane is ready, and will be sent to the CPCB for approval soon,” said VM Motghare, joint director (air quality), MPCB.

• Air Pollution

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Maharashtra

Mumbai Air Quality Index (AQI) | India

Real-time PM2.5, PM10 air pollution level Maharashtra

Last Update: 26 May 2024, 01:09pm

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Major Air Pollutants in Mumbai

The current PM2.5 concentration in Mumbai is 1.6 times above the recommended limit given by the WHO 24 hrs air quality guidelines value.

PM2.5 air pollution in Mumbai is causing an estimated deaths of lives since January 1, 2021. It has cost the city's economy around US$3.3 billion so far this year. (Source: Greenpeace)

Mumbai - Locations Air Pollution Level

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Oct 1, 2020

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Faqs of mumbai air quality index, (frequently asked questions).

Quick answers to some commonly asked questions about the air pollution of Mumbai.

The real-time air quality in Mumbai is 117 (MODERATE) AQI now. This was last updated 1 minute ago .

The current concentration of PM2.5 in Mumbai is 24 (µg/m³). The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends 15 µg/m³ as the threshold concentration of PM2.5 for 24 hrs mean. Currently, the concentration is 0.96 times the recommended limit.

Generally, the air quality at Mumbai starts deteriorating in late October. The winters are the worst-hit season in terms of air pollution.

You should wear a good N95 mask when you go outdoor in Mumbai until the AQI is improving upto moderate range.

Office going people should avoid personal vehicles and use public transportations or carpooling.

(i) The primary causes of outdoor air pollution are solid, liquid particles called aerosols & gase from vehicles emissions, construction activities, factories, burning stubble & fossil fuels and wildfire, etc.

(ii) Main causes of indoor air pollution are harmful gases from cooking fuels (such as wood, crop wastes, charcoal, coal and dung), damp, mould smoke, chemicals from cleaning materials, etc.

Indoor air pollution in Mumbai is as dangerous as outdoor pollution, because the air pollutants come inside the houses or buildings through doors, windows and ventilation.

In Mumbai , you must use an air purifier or fresh air machine at home or office indoor and close all the doors, windows and ventilations when the outdoor air quality index (aqi) in Mumbai is very high. Proper ventilation is highly recommended only when outdoor air quality is improving and moderate AQI range.

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Mumbai AIR POLLUTION

How is the financial capital of India emerging as one of the emerging hotspots of air pollution?

Also known as Bombay, and a financial center, it is the largest city in India. It is situated on the west coast of India and is known as the heart of the Indian Bollywood industry. In Mumbai, the problem of air pollution is relatively new and has spiked only in the last decade. Industrial, vehicular, and construction pollutants pollute the air of Mumbai, which has a population of about 12 million people. Although it is not as bad as Delhi's air, it can occasionally hit those dangerous levels.

What are the causes of deteriorating air quality in Mumbai over the last decade?

Particulates (PM2.5 & PM10), as well as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), have been identified as significant pollutants for a variety of health effects, including congestion, shortness of breath, coughing, and nasal congestion, as well as disorders including seasonal allergies, pneumonia, and chronic bronchitis. pollution levels are lower in the summer than in the winter, assuming that the geographical and climatic conditions remain the same. During the winter afternoons, you can see a similar phenomenon. The temperature rise has resulted in a minor reduction in pollutants. The worst times are early mornings and late nights. The impact of the inversion can be seen, which is why air quality suffers during these hours.

Sources of Air Pollution in Mumbai

Mumbai has the world's largest slum area. A survey found that fuel used for domestic uses in the slums of Mumbai contributed about 27% to its pollution levels. Industrial and power plant emissions account for about 36% of the total pollution, accompanied by biofuels.

Traffic emissions: Road transport is responsible for 80% of Mumbai's carbon emissions. Vehicles must be inspected every 6 to 8 months by more pollution under control (PUC) facilities. Supposedly, through the state's new comprehensive sustainable energy strategy, a cash for clunkers program for old cars will assure a transition to renewable fuels, and increased use of non-motorized transportation, and e-vehicles.

Paved and Unpaved Road Dust: Nearly, 71% of particulates in Mumbai's air are due to population growth. A construction site-specific Air Quality Monitoring Plan is essential for sharing data about poor air quality.

Landfills and waste burning: Each day 7,000-7,500 metric tonnes of solid garbage is created by Mumbai. Toxic fumes can be potentially hazardous to the area surrounding the landfills for up to 5-10 kilometers. Apart from that, the smoke from waste burning can travel up to a radius of 15 kilometers, making the air toxic to breathe. 78% of persons living near the landfill area may be seriously contaminated by foul odors associated with the garbage site.

Metro and flyover construction: The continuous construction of Metro train lines is producing significant dust pollution among the different construction operations taking place in Mumbai these days, according to results given to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation by the World Resources Institute (BMC). Suspended dust is caused by the construction of Mumbai metro projects, which accounts for about 3%. Construction works are responsible for nearly 8% of overall particulates emissions.

Health impacts of air pollution on Mumbai residents

1. Vehicular and Traffic Emissions: As the population rises, so does the number of vehicles on the road. This will create traffic jams and congestion resulting in a higher amount of pollutants in the air. They emit toxic pollutants like particulate matter, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, etc. These have the potential to induce heart disease, exacerbate asthma, harm the central nervous system, and make breathing difficult. Lung infection and cancer can be exacerbated due to longer exposures.

2. Road Dust: Main pollutants from road dust are particulates, mainly PM2.5 and PM10. Road dust contributes to about 31% of Mumbai's particulate concentrations. Short-term effects include irritation in the eyes, nose, throat, respiratory tract infections, shortness of breath, sneezing, coughing, etc. Cardiorespiratory diseases can worsen with long-term exposure.

3. Landfills and waste burning: Landfill sites are a major issue in Mumbai, especially since garbage is burned on a large scale, polluting the air. Other than smoke from the waste burning, landfills produce various toxic gasses like methane, ammonia, carbon dioxide, etc. These poisonous gasses add to the already bad air quality of the city. Citizens who lived nearby to the landfill area reported more illnesses, such as flu, eye discomfort, and bodily weakness than those who lived farther away. Continuous inhalation of these pollutants can cause nausea, vomiting, and loss of coordination and higher concentrations can even lead to death.

4. Construction Activities: Coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, lung cancer, strokes, cardiorespiratory diseases, and asthma exacerbation can all be symptoms of pollution from a construction site. As a short-term side effect of living near a construction site, residents may experience a cough or shortness of breath.

The Mumbai government has issued health advice and taken steps. These are:

For various phases of air quality, SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research) issued a standard health guideline:

1. Patients with asthma must keep medications available at all times. When they go outside, they should use N-95 masks and respirators.

2. Wet Mopping is recommended to dusting.

3. All Mumbai citizens were warned to avoid going outside in the morning hours and after sundown.

4. Sensitive populations should avoid any outside physical activity and stay indoors as much as possible.

5. Keep doors and windows closed as much as possible.

To address this ever-increasing problem, strict implementation of the Construction & Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016, which demand a safe and effective waste disposal system, could be the first step.

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Airpocalypse Now: Facing the air pollution threat in India

Pollution in any form reduces our healthspan and lifespan

There's so much pollution in the air now that if it weren't for our lungs there'd be no place to put it all.

                                                                                                                   Robert Orben

Pollution in any form, whether it is the air we breathe or the noise around us or the water we drink or the heavy metals that seep into our bodies, reduces our healthspan and lifespan .

Each day, the papers bombard us with news, usually bad, about the air we breathe, the pollution in our cities, the air quality around us (many newspapers carry the AQI of the previous day or show it live in real-time online), the health problems due to poor air quality and so on. As a result, most newspaper readers have some understanding that the air we breathe is polluted and is bad for our health.

But what does this all really mean?

1. What do we mean by air pollution?

There are two ways of defining air pollution. One is subjective, where we can actually see and/or smell the polluted air…dirty, dark, grey, sooty air that smells, air that makes us gag when we breathe or makes us want to instantly cover our noses and mouths, fog that becomes smog with different shades of gray, smoke belching out from cars and trucks and wafting from people burning rubbish on the roads or agarbattis in full flow in enclosed rooms in temples or during poojas and weddings, or the smoke in our houses from cooking on stoves that use coal or kerosene or cow-dung. Our bodies and minds intuitively know when the air we breathe is bad. We understand the invigorating difference instinctively when we go to the mountains or beaches that have cleaner air.

The other way is to objectively measure and define the presence and extent of air pollution.

2. How do we measure air pollution?

Air pollution is divided into ambient air pollution and household air pollution. Ambient air pollution is defined as “exposure to fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2·5 μm or less (PM 2.5 ) in a cubic meter of air (μg/m 3 )” . [1]. PM means particulate matter. The larger particles (PM 10 ) can enter the lungs and cause respiratory problems, but the smaller (PM 2.5 ) particles have the ability to cross the lungs and enter the blood-stream and directly affect other organs like the heart, kidneys, brains, etc.

The impact of the particle size is better understood as an Air Quality Index (AQI), which is the composite of multiple parameters such as PM 2.5 , PM 10 , ozone, etc. The AQI scale varies from country to country.

Household air pollution at a population level is determined from surveys that look at the extent of solid fuel use in households and then convert these to PM 2.5 equivalents. For us as individuals, any smoke in the house, whether from cooking fuel or agarbattis constitutes indoor/household air pollution.

3. What values suggest air pollution?

The WHO values, updated on 22 nd Sept 2021 are quite clear and simple. PM 2.5 exposure should be less than a mean of 5 µg/m 3 annually, with a 24-hour mean of less than 15 µg/m 3 . The WHO also has published similar values for ozone, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. According to the WHO, 99% of the world’s population lives in areas that do not meet these criteria, which means that its current values are aspirational numbers that countries have to strive to reach over a period of time.

India last revised its numbers in 2009. The National Ambient Air Quality Standards are much more liberal allowing for a PM 2.5 of 60 µg/m 3 annually with a 24-hours mean of less than 40 µg/m 3 . India is also planning to revise its numbers this year sometime and it will likely be close to but not at the WHO levels.

The AQI is a color coded scale that gives a composite at a specific time point, of the air quality in your area. For e.g. at the time of writing this, the AQI for PM 2.5 in Sion (a central suburb of Mumbai) was 57, labeled moderate air quality, corresponding to a PM 2.5 level of 31-60, which is supposed to normal for Mumbai, but much higher than what the WHO considers normal.

In fact, if you just Google “air quality index kerala” you get the current AQI at different stations in the state. The same is true for major cities and towns across the world.

4. What is the extent of air pollution in India?

The 2018 paper [1] published by the India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative Air Pollution Collaborators estimates that 76.8% of India’s population in 2017 was exposed to a PM 2.5 of > 40 µg/m 3 , more in North India (up to 125 µg/m 3 ) than in other states. Only Kerala has a PM 2.5 of less than 20 µg/m 3 while Karnataka, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Meghalaya have PM 2.5 values between 20-39.9 µg/m 3 annually. There are variations with states and within cities (e.g. Mazgaon is more polluted than Worli in Mumbai), but the AQI does help us understand what we are exposed to based on where we live.

Basically, if you are an urban Indian, the more North the city or state you live in, the more you are in trouble.

5. How does air pollution affect our health?

There is good data linking air pollution to increased incidence of stroke (brain attack), coronary and ischemic heart disease, both acute (heart attacks) and chronic, hypertension [2], chronic obstructive pulmonary disease also called COPD, lung cancer, pneumonia and cataract. There is suggestive evidence that links air pollution to poorer pregnancy outcomes, diabetes, kidney diseases, other cancers, dementia and cognitive impairment. The more the air pollution, the more the incidence of premature deaths and morbidity.

6. How big is the health problem?

According to the WHO, 8 million (80 lakh) deaths per year occur due to air pollution globally, 4.2 million due to ambient air pollution and 3.8 million due to household pollution. In India, 1.67 million deaths (16.8 lakh deaths) likely occurred due to air pollution in 2019, (0.98 million or 9.8 lakhs from ambient air pollution and 0.61 million or 6.1 lakhs from household air pollution) [3]. Deaths due to air pollution account for 17.8% of all deaths in India.

As a single risk factor, it is the leading cause of deaths in our country, as the recently updated Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data for 2021 also shows.

The cost to the country of these premature deaths is 28.8 billion USD or 214330 crore rupees. One third of the healthcare expenditure in this country can be attributed to air pollution, which means at a nationwide level, bring down air pollution can significantly improve our growth and the allocation of resources.

7. What is being done to reduce air pollution?

For ambient air pollution, legislative and non-legislative measures are constantly being updated and enforced, ranging from industrial (e.g. emission standards for factories) to agricultural (not burning crop stubble), to vehicular (low emissions, electric cars, more public transport). All of these help to some extent or the other [4].

For household air pollution, education and replacing stoves that use kerosene, biomass (wood, animal dung, crop waste) and coal with cleaner stoves make a huge difference.

8. What can we as individuals do to reduce the impact of air pollution on our health?

These can be divided into two main categories; reducing pollutants and reducing risk [5].

Reducing pollutants means not using stoves with fuel that produce smoke and not using incense sticks (agarbattis) in enclosed rooms. At an environmental level, it would also mean moving eventually to electric cars.

Reducing risk can be further divided into measures that we take based on the pollution levels on that day versus permanent measures. Permanent measures include the use of appropriate air filters in our offices and homes, efficient air conditioning in our homes and in our cars with our windows up when traveling within the city. Variable measures depend upon the AQI at that time. If the AQI is high, then wearing a mask, reducing outdoor movement including running, walking and other physical activity, choosing a less polluted car route, even it takes a little longer, can make a difference. Even if the AQI is within acceptable limits, it is a good idea to avoid high density traffic if it is possible, and try and walk and run on smaller roads with lesser traffic and preferably in the mornings.

However, whatever we do, in the end, we still land up breathing the same air though what you have and where you live make a difference even in the same city. The rich can reduce their risk far more than the poor. Our healthspan is the sum total of all the factors, external and internal, that go into keeping us healthy; though we have pretty much no control as individuals on ambient air pollution and are completely dependent on the Government and its agencies to improve the quality of the air we breathe, at an individual level, we can implement measures at home and in our offices to improve the quality of the air we breathe. Thankfully, like with noise pollution, since poor air quality affects all of us, including our politicians and leaders, there are conscious efforts at multiple levels to improve our air quality as much as is economically and politically possible.

1. India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative Air Pollution Collaborators. Lancet Planet Health. 2019 Jan;3(1):e26-e39.

2. Rajagopalan S, Landrigan PJ. N Engl J Med. 2021 Nov 11;385(20):1881-1892.

3. India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative Air Pollution Collaborators. Lancet Planet Health. 2021 Jan;5(1):e25-e38.

4. Burns J et al. Environ Int. 2020 Feb;135:105400.

5. Carlsten C et al.Eur Respir J. 2020 Jun 4;55(6):1902056

Dr. Bhavin Jankharia’s new book “Atmasvasth” available online, dives deeper into this concept. He can provide references for all statements of fact and can be reached at [email protected]

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Tracking India's Air Quality

On November 6, 2023, air pollution in Delhi, India , hit an all-time high and then went off the charts. On that day, Delhi's air quality index (AQI) surpassed 500, the scale's maximum level. The pollution sent overwhelming numbers of children to local emergency departments with breathing problems and Delhi officials closed their schools.

The AQI measures ground-level ozone, particles from dust and biofuel combustion and other sources, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide pollutants. AQI levels of 0-50 are good, 50-200 become increasingly unhealthy for various people, and levels above 200 place everyone at significantly increased risk for illness or worse. AQI levels in Delhi and across India routinely surpasses World Health Organization (WHO) limits for healthy breathing, contributing to the country’s rising rates of cardiopulmonary illness and premature death.

To help clear India's air, NASA and world researchers are using the agency's satellite and ground-based data to understand, monitor, and predict the country's air pollution processes, levels, and effects.

NASA atmospheric scientist Dr. Pawan Gupta is an expert in India's air pollution and specializes in using satellites to monitor air quality.

"India's air pollution sources and seasonality vary across the country,” said Gupta. "The topography and weather patterns in Northern India favor the development of high levels of pollution, especially in areas bordered by the Himalayan mountains and the plains and during the winter season."

During the cold, dry winter months, cool air in the high mountains forms a low-level boundary layer in the atmosphere. This layer traps particulates near the surface produced by agricultural slash and burn fires and the burning of fuels for cooking and heating, which then raises air pollution levels. In warmer months, winds from the plains and deserts blow dust into the air and make it harder to breathe. In the more densely populated and warmer southern areas, weather and burning biofuels contribute to creating air pollution; however, dust from bare exposed ground along roadways along with smog from industry and transportation play the greatest role in degrading the region’s air quality throughout the year.

Seeing into the Smog

"When we talk about air quality, we generally use two types of data: aerosols and gases," said Gupta. "Over the past 25 years, Indian and other researchers have been using these air quality data to understand the processes, sources, [and] seasonal variability of pollution."

NASA has many datasets from an array of sensors related to air quality that are freely and openly available through Earthdata Search and the agency's webpages. One key source of data is the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer ( MODIS ) instrument aboard NASA's Aqua and Terra satellites, which provides measurements for aerosol and other data products useful for air quality research. Terra also carries the Multi-Angle Imaging Spectroradiometer ( MISR ), which records aerosol particle data . The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite ( VIIRS ) aboard the joint NASA/NOAA Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP), NOAA-20, and NOAA-21 satellites provides similar, next-generation data . Along with satellite-acquired data, NASA offers on-the-ground data through the global AErosol RObotic NETwork ( AERONET ) of linked ground stations that provide aerosol measurements every 5-15 minutes. Among its more than 600 active ground stations , AERONET includes nine units in India.

It’s Unfair Who Breathes the Dirty Air

As researchers learn more about the nature of air pollution, many are turning to revealing how it hurts people and who is most at risk.

"In the past five years more and more research has focused on the impact of pollution on human health," said Gupta.

This new focus is leading to innovative datasets geared toward socioeconomic and environmental justice studies. One such dataset is the Global (GL) Annual PM2.5 Grids , which provides annual global concentrations of ground-level fine particulate matter 2.5 micrometers or smaller (designated PM2.5) for large-scale health and environmental research. The dataset includes measurements from MODIS, MISR, and the Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor ( SeaWiFS ). The dataset is available through NASA's Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center ( SEDAC ).

Dr. Priyanka deSouza from the University of Colorado recently used a version of the dataset in a 2023 study published in Scientific Reports that provided an environmental justice analysis of air pollution in India .

"Air pollution mitigation in India is a big issue because is out of compliance with WHO guidelines, and many cities are out of compliance with the Indian national ambient air quality standards," said deSouza.

For her study, deSouza incorporated the annual PM2.5 grids with data from a nation-wide survey gathering socioeconomic information from Indian residents, including their religion and social caste. She used the data to map where PM2.5 levels are highest and describe who lives there. "We found that there are subpopulations of people who are disproportionately suffering from PM2.5 pollution exposure," said deSouza.

Specifically, the data revealed that areas with higher levels of PM2.5 tended to have higher levels of lower caste members. What's more, vulnerable populations, such as Scheduled Tribes officially identified by the Indian government as socially disadvantaged, tended to use less energy from power plants and other sources, making them disproportionately burdened by pollution relative to their energy use.

There were differences in rural and urban areas as well. Poorer urban areas had higher levels of PM2.5 compared with poorer rural communities. The difference is likely explained by the fact that while people in poorer, rural areas may still use particle-producing biomass for cooking and heating (such as wood or coal), they don't have as much access to cars and other vehicles that further contribute to pollution.

"What this all means is that India's mitigation strategies should incorporate concerns of equity and prioritize areas with these vulnerable populations," said deSouza.

DeSouza's study is a great example of how the global annual PM2.5 grids and NASA's other air quality data can help us see through the pollution problems in India or around the world. If you would like to learn more or use the data, check out these NASA resources:

• NASA Earth Science Data Systems (ESDS) Air Quality Resources
• NASA Near Real-Time Air Quality Data
• Using Satellite Data to Solve Real-World Health and Air Quality Issues
• Earthdata Webinar: An Introduction to NASA's SEDAC Datasets for Health and Air Quality Impacts
• Understanding Needs to Broaden Outside Use of NASA Data (UNBOUND) Air Quality workshop report
• NASA Science Air Quality Information Page

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Noise pollution in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR): An emerging environmental threat

• Published: 30 January 2020
• Volume 192 , article number  152 , ( 2020 )

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• Komal Kalawapudi 1 ,
• Taruna Singh 1 ,
• Jaydip Dey 1 ,
• Ritesh Vijay   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-5731-560X 1 &
• Rakesh Kumar 1  

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Noise pollution in urban areas is an emerging environmental threat which local agencies and state authorities must consider in planning and development. Excessive noise is becoming a significant problem adversely affecting the physiological and psychological health of the citizens. Present study was carried out to assess and quantitatively evaluate ambient noise levels in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) consisting of 9 cities namely Bhiwandi-Nizampur, Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Bhayandar, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Panvel, Thane, Ulhasnagar and Vasai-Virar. The noise environment was assessed on the basis of equivalent continuous sound pressure levels (L eq ), day-night noise levels (L DN ) and noise limit exceedance factor (NEF) during day and night time of working and non-working days in four different area categories, viz. industrial, commercial, residential and silence zones. Present study shows that silence zones have been the worst affected areas where noise pollution levels and NEF indicate excessive violation of permissible noise limits due to unplanned, congested and unruly spaces for developmental and commercial activities, followed closely by residential and commercial zones. Cities with separate industrial and commercial zones showed less noisy surroundings in comparison with those cities where land use pattern of industrial and commercial zones is around or overlapping each other. It can thus be concluded that appropriate demarcation and planned use of city space is important to avoid exposure to rising noise pollution levels. Based on the noise pollution in (MMR), various control measures are suggested including awareness campaign and strict compliance of the rules and regulations.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute for providing the necessary infrastructure support and permission to publish this research.

The authors are also thankful to Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) for providing financial support to carry out this study.

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Kalawapudi, K., Singh, T., Dey, J. et al. Noise pollution in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR): An emerging environmental threat. Environ Monit Assess 192 , 152 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-8121-9

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Received : 02 August 2019

Accepted : 23 January 2020

Published : 30 January 2020

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-8121-9

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