Air pollution in India: a comprehensive review on impacts, challenges and mitigation strategies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20250335Keywords:
Air pollution, Public health, Mitigation strategies, National clean air programmeAbstract
Air pollution is a significant challenge in India, driven by industrial emissions, vehicular exhaust, urbanization and biomass burning. It is linked to severe health impacts, including respiratory diseases, cardiovascular disorders and premature mortality, with marginalized communities bearing disproportionate burdens. India is home to nine of the world's ten most polluted cities, with Delhi exemplifying the crisis due to stubble burning and high vehicular density. Air pollution's economic and health costs are immense, affecting GDP and public health expenditure. Effective mitigation strategies involve technological advancements such as electric vehicles, renewable energy and IoT-enabled real-time monitoring systems. Regulatory interventions like the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and the adoption of Bharat Stage VI standards aim to curb pollution. International examples from China, the US and the EU provide valuable lessons on integrated policies and public participation. Future directions include leveraging AI and big data analytics for pollution management and incorporating air quality concerns into urban planning. Public awareness campaigns and grassroots movements remain essential in driving behavioral changes for sustainable practices.
Metrics
References
Pandey A, Brauer M, Cropper ML, Balakrishnan K, Mathur P, Dey S, et al. Health and economic impact of air pollution in the states of India: the global burden of disease study 2019. The Lancet Planetary Health. 2021;5(1):25-38.
Air pollution. Available at: https://www.who.int. Accessed on 21 August 2024.
Souza PN, Chaudhary E, Dey S, Ko S, Németh J, Guttikunda S, et al. An environmental justice analysis of air pollution in India. Scientific reports. 2023;13(1):16690. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-43628-3
Vyas V, Mehta K, Sharma R. The nexus between toxic-air pollution, health expenditure and economic growth: An empirical study using ARDL. Int Rev Econ Financ. 2023;84:154–66. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2022.11.017
Bagepally BS, Rakesh B. Air pollution attributed disease burden and economic growth in India: estimating trends and inequality between states. The Lancet Regional Health-Southeast Asia. 2022;1:7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lansea.2022.100069
Manisalidis I, Stavropoulou E, Stavropoulos A, Bezirtzoglou E. Environmental and health impacts of air pollution: a review. Frontiers in Public Health. 2020;8:14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.00014
Dutta A, Jinsart W. Air pollution in Delhi, India: It’s status and association with respiratory diseases. PLoS One. 2022;17(9):274444. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0274444
Pandey A, Brauer M, Cropper ML, Balakrishnan K, Mathur P, Dey S, et al. Health and economic impact of air pollution in the states of India: The Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet Planet Heal. 2021;5(1):25.
Pandey A, Brauer M, Cropper ML, Balakrishnan K, Mathur P, Dey S, et al. Health and economic impact of air pollution in the states of India: The Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet Planet Heal. 2021;5(1):25–38. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30298-9
Kaur R, Pandey P. Air Pollution, Climate Change and Human Health in Indian Cities: A Brief Review. Front Sustain Cities. 2021;3:705131. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/frsc.2021.705131
Purohit P, Amann M, Kiesewetter G, Rafaj P, Chaturvedi V, Dholakia HH, et al. Mitigation pathways towards national ambient air quality standards in India. Environ Int 2019;133:105147. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.105147
Sofia D, Gioiella F, Lotrecchiano N, Giuliano A. Mitigation strategies for reducing air pollution. Environ Sci Pollut Res. 2020;27(16):19226–35. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08647-x
Developing Strategies for Control of Air Pollution in India and its Cities. TERI. 2023. Available at: https://www.teriin.org/project. Accessed on 21 August 2024.
Managing air quality in Europe-European Environment Agency. Available at: https://www.eea.europa.eu. Accessed on 19 August 2024.
Feng T, Sun Y, Shi Y, Ma J, Feng C, Chen Z. Air pollution control policies and impacts: A review. Renew Sustain Energy Rev. 2024;191:114071. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2023.114071
World Health Organization. Air quality guidelines for Europe. World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe; 2000.
Japan, climate & clean air coalition. Available at: https://www.ccacoalition.org/partners/japan. Accessed 21 August 2024.
Air pollution in India: major issues and challenges. TERI. Available at: https://www.teriin.org/article. Accessed on 18 August 2024.
Pollution. 2021. Available at: https://www.worldbank.org. Accessed on 12 August 2024.
Tracing the Hazy Air: Progress Report on National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) – Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. 2024.Available at: https://energyandcleanair.org. Accessed on 22 August 2024.