A Greenpeace India report recommends a region-specific approach for cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Pune to tackle poor air quality.
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The Bengaluru City railway station recorded the highest Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) levels in the city for over 80% of 2023 followed by BTM Layout and Silk Board air monitoring stations, according to a report released by Greenpeace India called “Beyond North India: NO₂ Pollution and Health Risks in Seven Major Indian Cities”.
The NO2 levels at the station exceeded the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines which recommends an annual NO2 concentration of no more than 10 µg/m³. NO2 is a near-invisible toxic gas closely linked to traffic and fuel burning, common in urban areas, and exposure to the gas can pose serious health risks such as risk of asthma, airway inflammation, respiratory irritation, and the worsening of existing respiratory conditions to residents of the city.
“It can impair lung development, intensify allergies and increase susceptibility to respiratory mortality and death from circulatory diseases, ischemic heart disease, and even lung cancer,” a press release from Greenpeace India said, adding that NO2 pollution in 2019 could have been responsible for 2,730 cases of paediatric asthma in Bengaluru.
Calling investment in cleaner, more accessible transport options an urgent public health imperative, Selomi Garniak, Climate Justice Campaigner at Greenpeace India, said: “This report underscores a crucial truth: air pollution is not limited to Delhi or north India. The transportation sector is the largest contributor to high NO2 levels across cities in India. As cities grow, the rise in private vehicles worsens air quality and jeopardises public health. To tackle this, we need a fundamental shift towards a sustainable, efficient public transportation system.”
The report also recommends a region-specific approach for cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Pune to tackle poor air quality.
“Local governments should focus on reducing vehicular emissions by enhancing public transport, including fare-free schemes for women. Increased investment is needed in hybrid air quality monitoring networks that combine low-cost sensors, existing systems, and satellite data. This data-driven approach will help track progress and guide effective interventions to reduce pollution levels,” the report suggested.
Published – December 04, 2024 09:05 pm IST