3.A - CASE STUDY of the impacts of air pollution to Delhi, India.

Question 1

how many deaths a year are because of air pollution?

Answer 1

30,000 deaths/year attributed to air pollution in Delhi

Question 2

how does the physical geography of Delhi enhance pollution?

Answer 2

• Himalayas are just to the north of Delhi
• stops the air being blown away, causing it to be trapped by air mass from Himalaya
• dome of high pressure trapping the pollution
• Punjab region (just outside Delhi). crop stubble burned in autumn to clear the fields to plant a new crop.
• factories in the city, lack of controls/guidelines
• MONSOON - rains from July/August. then dry and stable air from Oct-May. high pressure, traps the pollutants.

Question 3

facts about Delhi (from video)

Answer 3

• spending a day in those conditions is the equivalent of smoking 50 cigarettes
• second largest city in world. more people means more cars and construction - spreading dust and exhaust.
• population 28.5 mill people
• air pollution 113.5 particles per cubic meter (high)
• october + november spikes. 50x what’s considered healthy. seasonality.
• crop burning. stubble fire smoke mixes w/ urban pollution
• topography and air pressure

Question 4

when are the monsoons?

Answer 4

• MONSOON - rains from July/August.
• then dry and stable air from Oct-May. high pressure, traps the pollutants.

Question 5

what is the popualtion of Delhi?

Answer 5

28.5 mill people

Question 6

what is the water cycle synoptic link?

Answer 6

• june-sept = rainy monsoon season. pollution levels drop. Moisture condenses around particulates (PM 2.5 particulates)
• because they condense they get heavier
• high pressure, dry and stable air traps the pollution

Question 7

describe the causes of urban and rural air pollution in India

Answer 7

• air pollution is due to the emissions of particulates, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and ozone, principally by motor vehicles, coal burning power stations and factories
• however, indoor air pollution is also a problem. this is especially in rural areas, where households often lack electricity and depend on biomass fuels such as animal dung for heating, and paraffin fro cooking/lighting.
• indoor air pollution from these sources is responsible for about 1 million premature deaths/yr.

Question 8

how is indoor air pollution a problem?

Answer 8

• however, indoor air pollution is also a problem. this is especially in rural areas, where households often lack electricity and depend on biomass fuels such as animal dung for heating, and paraffin for cooking/lighting.
• indoor air pollution from these sources is responsible for about 1 million premature deaths/yr.

Question 9

what are PM2.5 and why are they such an issue?

Answer 9

• particulate pollution is the biggest threat to human health.
• tiny air-bourne particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM 2.5) are released by burning fossil fuels and penetrate deep into people’s lungs
• they cause serious respiratory problems (asthma, bronchitis) as well as lung and heart disease, and cancer
• as a result of PM2.5 pollution residents risk from lung cancer in Delhi are ↑ by 70%

Question 10

how could weather/seasons alter the incidence rate of air pollution?

Answer 10

• rates are higher in the winter.
• in india the winter is dominated by stable, high pressure air masses
• monsoon season. moisture condenses around PM 2.5 particulates, falls as rain, pollution ↓
• stable, high pressure traps pollution

Question 11

what health issues exist in Delhi that are more significant than in the rural areas?

Answer 11

• close relationship between air pollution in Delhi and elevated levels of mortality and morbidity.
• compared with less-polluted rural areas in India, respiratory symptoms (e.g. breathlessness, chest discomfort) and diseases such as asthma are 1.7 times higher in Delhi
• lung function ↓ 40% in Delhi inhabitants compared to 21% in rural areas.

Question 12

how has lung cancer changed in Delhi?

Answer 12

• 1 in 5 cases now occur in non-smokers
• represents a 20% ↑ in the past 10 years

Question 13

what is the government’s attitude towards air pollution?

Answer 13

• reality of rapid urbanisation = massive slum growth and bad sanitation etc = they have higher priorities
• large pop = 28.5 mill. hard to police things
• crop burning isnt happening in Delhi and govt unable to control them

Question 14

give 5 national strategies that could reduce air pollution

Answer 14

1. in Bihar state = chimneys of brick kilns have been retrofitted to reduce smoke emissions
2. 14 Indian cities are currently building rapid transit metro systems
3. subsidies for petrol/diesel will be scrapped - 1/3 of all electricity is produced by noxious generators powered by petrol and diesel fuel
4. restrictions placed on burning of stubble = major cause in rural areas.
5. world’s 1st market for trading permits in emissions of particulates have been developed in states Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

Question 15

what global solutions are there that could help?

Answer 15

• in 2012 , 37 countries and the EU states agreed targets to cut GHG emissions by 18% of 1990 levels by 2020
• EU had the world’s largest cap-and-trade scheme and each EU state has targets for expanding renewable energy and policies to comply with European Cliamte Change Programme
• countries which participate in these international initiatives should see reductions in air pollution, particularly in urban areas + improvements in life expectancy
• annual world cancer day = draws attention to cancer epidemic and addressing govt. to take more action to tackle disease
• WHO = a “draft road map” = address problems of cancer as a leading avoidable cause of death and confront adverse health effects of air pollution.