Published in IIPS Mumbai, ENVIS center, Volume 1, No. 3, September 2004

Urban Air Pollution And its Influence

on Health in India

By Dr. Dewaram A. Nagdeve, International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai 400 088

Introduction

Air pollution is one of the serious problems faced by the people globally, especially in urban areas of developing countries, which not only experiences a rapid growth of population but also industrialization which is accompanied by growing number of vehicles. Population Reference Bureau (2001) estimated 6.14 billion world's population in mid 2001. Contribution of India alone to this population was estimated to be 1033 millions. According to the provisional results of the Census of India (2001), the population of India on 1st March 2001 is 1027 millions comprising of 531.28 million males and 498.74 million females. Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai are three of the world's ten most populous cities. By the year 2000, more than 350 million Indians will live in cities. The increase of population has been tending towards alarming situation. If the world population continues to multiply, the impact on environment could be devastating.

According to the World Development Indicators report 1.5 billion people live exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution, 1 billion live without clean water and 2 billion live without sanitation World Bank (1997). According to Kapoor, S. (1997) about 15 to 18 million children in developing countries are affected by high levels of lead in their blood, which could be the result of emissions from vehicle exhaust and are likely to suffer from related illness. O'MEARA, M.(1999);United Nations Development Programme(1998) and World Health Organisation(l 997) estimated that air pollution kills 2.7 million to 3 million people every year- about 6% of all deaths annually. According to United Nations Development Programme(1998) estimates 9 out of 10 deaths due to air pollution takes place in Developing Countries. Air pollution kills an estimated 673 thousands people in India, out of which 589 thousands people from indoor pollution and 84 thousands from outdoor pollution. India is one of the degraded environment countrie  and is paying heavy health and economic price for it. According to a World Bank sponsored study (1999), estimated environmental damage in the year 1992 amounted to about US $ 10 billion or Rs. 34,000 crores, which is 4.5 % of GDP. Urban air pollution costs India US $ 1.3 billion a year.

The unplanned location of industries in urban and sub-urban areas followed by traffic congestion causes serious air pollution problems. However, all these factors together not only lead to deteriorating environmental conditions but also have adverse effects on the health of people. Hence it has been the main areas of concern for demographers, ecologists, planners and policy makers over the recent past. The present paper is an attempt to examine some of the linkages between the demographic changes taking place in India, impact of the automobile emission on air pollution and its concomitant hazards interfaced with case studies of major Indian cities. Demographic characteristics of the population of India

India is the second most populous country in the world after China. Recently, the population of India has crossed the one billion marks. According to the provisional results of the Census of India 2001, the population of India on 1st March 2001 is 1027 millions. At the time of independence, the country's population was 342 million. The number has multiplied three-fold during five decades. The selected demographic characteristics of the population of India are presented in Table 1. The total population size of India had grown from 361 million in 1951 to around 1027 million in 2001. The rural population of India has increased around two and half times from 298.7 million to 741.7 million during 1951- 2001, whereas the urban population has grown 4.6 fold from 62.4 million in 1951 to 285.3 million in 2001 Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (2001).

In the year 1950-51, the total number of registered vehicles per lakh population in India were 85 only, almost doubling the rate every decade. During the 1950-51 to 1988-89, it has increased almost 24 times as indicated in Table 4, During the 1950-51 to 1988-89, the congestion on road, which was 1.37 PCus per road km. in 1950-51 increased by 8.53 times during the year 1988-89.

The major share is contributed by metropolitan cities in total registered vehicles in the country Bagade and Tapade (2000). An increase in vehicular pollution is associated with a number of environmental problems like air pollution and global warming. Technical pollution parameters suggest that two wheelers are more polluting as compared to other motor vehicles. As a result of urbanization in India, pressure on urban transport is likely to increase substantially in this new millennium. It has been attempted to evaluate the future transport scenario to forecast the vehicle air pollution levels. Following are some of the points of due consideration: India is excepted to have 31 metro cities by 2001 and 51 by 2021. The number of vehicles on Indian roads is estimated to increase by nine times by the tune of the century out of which 65 % to 70 % shall be two wheelers or three wheelers. Urban transport demand is expected to grow by 2.6 times by 2016 at the existing model split in larger medium sized cities. At the existing model split, the urban air quality is expected to deteriorate faster in the 21 ' century, as two-wheeler population would be as high as 86.13 % of the total vehicles used for passenger transportation. By the year 2001, CO emission levels are likely to rise seven times and that of hydrocarbons by nine times. The levels of other major pollutants are expected to go up five folds (Luthra, A, 1999).

Table 2: Percentage distribution of different type of vehicles on road in India during 1950-51 to 1988- 89 and projection for 2000 A.D.

Source: Environment and Economic Development 2000.

Table 3: Percentage distribution of total registered motor vehicles in metropolitan cities of India as on 31st March, 1996

 Source: Central Statistical Organization, Compendium of Environment Statistics, Department of  Statistics, Ministry of Planning and Prosramme Implementation, Government of India, NewDelhi, 1999.

Table 4: Growth in vehicle population and congestion on road, 1950-51 to 2000.

Source: N. Rajalaxmi, "Environment and Economic Development" (Ed), Manak Publication (P) Limited, Delhi, 2000.

AIR POLLUTION

The World Health Organization (1996) defines air pollution as "substances put into the air by the activity of mankind into concentrations sufficient to cause harmful effects to health, property, crop yield or to interfere with the enjoyment of property". Some of the most important air pollutants are residual suspended particulate matter (RSPM), suspended particulate matter (SPM), nitrogen dioxides (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), lead, sulphur dioxide (SO2) etc.(Table 5). Central Statistical Organization (1999) shows that the urban air pollution has grown across India in the last decade are alarming. The main factors accounts to urban air quality deterioration are growing industrialization and increasing vehicular pollution, industrial emissions, automobile exhaust and the burning of fossil fuels kills thousands and lives many more to suffer mainly from respiratory damage, heart  and lung diseases.

Carter Brandon & Kirsten Hommann (1991-92) and. Anon (1997) estimated the annual episodes of illness and premature deaths due to ambient suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the air in four metro cities of India (Table 6). An automobile exhaust accounts a sizable part of pollution. Their effect on human health is particularly of concern. There is a strong correlation between average bloods.

Lead levels and the lead content in gasoline. Hydrocarbons present in the exhaust, particularly, in vehicles with poor combustion risen significantly in less than five years cause respiratory problems. It can be inferred from table that both, the illness and pre-mature deaths due to ambient suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the air in mega cities of Calcutta, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai have risen significantly in less than five years.

Table 5: State of ambient air quality in 10 metro cities of India during 1991

Note: Units are in 10-6 grammes per cubic meter

Source: Central Statistical Organisation, Compendium of Environment Statistics, Department of Statistics, Ministry of Planning and Programme Implementation, Government of India, New Delhi. 1999.

Table 6: Estimates of Annual Episodes of Illness and Pre-mature deaths due to Ambient Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) in the Air by Metro Cities of India

Note: 1. Carter Brandon & Kirter Homann, 2. Anon, Tiny Killers

Source: 1 .Valuing Environmental Costs in India: The Economy Wide Impact of Environment Degradation, 1991-92. 2.Down to Earth, 1997.

Case Studies

Congested road junctions build up high levels of NO2 and SPM. The levels of two gases in the northeast suburbs were found to be 156 and 1309 micrograms per cubic meter (ttg/m3). At Dadar or Sion Circle in central Mumbai, at peak hours, CO levels up to 40-50 parts per million (PPM) have been detected. The ambient air pollution levels measured have come down for SO2 over the last twenty years. But NO2 and SPM levels show a rising trend particularly in suburbs of Mumbai. SPM levels are higher in the central part of the city than in the western suburbs. According to a pollution related studies in the community and patients at the K.E.M. Hospital, Mumbai over the last twenty years have evaluated the full extent of the correlation and damage to human health Kamat and Mahasur (1997). A study conducted by Center for Science and Environment from 1987 to 1998, to understand the trend of air pollution in Delhi, based on three major pollutants: sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and SPM. It shows an increasing trend, though fluctuations are noticed in terms of annual maximum levels. According to the studies conducted by Center for Science and Environment, total SPM levels are not only always above the standard but there are days when they have reached nearly seventeen times the standard Chatterjee, P.(2001). A World Bank study conducted in 1995 revealed that if the air pollution is controlled in Calcutta according to the guidelines of World Health Organization (WHO), lives of 5726 persons maybe saved from premature death and of 30 lakhs people may also to be saved to be admitted to hospital (Banik, A. 2000).

Summary and conclusions

The outcomes of high population growth rates are urbanization, accompanied by growing number of vehicles. Rapid and unplanned expansion of cities is one of the serious problems as it has manifold effects, one of the most important being air pollution. Rapid population growth and urbanization in country is adversely affecting the environment. All these in turn lead to an increase in the air pollution levels. However, air pollution not only leads to deteriorating  environmental conditions but also have adverse effects on the health of people. The present paper therefore aims to examine some of the linkages between the demographic changes taking place in India, impact of the automobile emission on air pollution and its concomitant hazards interfaced with case studies of major Indian cities. The relevant empirical data for the study has been taken from various census of India, journal of transport management and compendium of environment statistics. In addition, an overview of some of the studies undertaken in this area has also been given to examine impact of the automobile emission on air pollution and its concomitant hazards.

Air pollution in country is one of the greatest menaces to the health of people, which in turn causing threat to the survival of mankind. The study reveals that rapid population growth has led to the urbanization, increasing all types of vehicles and air pollution in the country. The considerable magnitude of air pollution in the country also pulls up the number of people suffering from diseases related to air pollution and many a times leading to deaths and serious health hazards. The findings of different studies have shown the impact of automobile emissions on air pollution and health of the people. From the various effects of air pollution on human beings, discussed in this paper, it appears that if human beings want to exist on earth, there is now high time to give top priority to control air pollution of all types for a healthy living. It can be said that India is unable to achieve the desirable standards of health for its population as consequences of air pollution.

There is a need to control population growth in the country. Special efforts should be made for educating the general mass and local leaders about the adverse effects of large population through specially designed Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities. Measures to control air pollution should be intensified throughout the country. A shift in the movement of personal vehicles should be encouraged to public transport bus system. State Transport bus service sector should set up better vehicular standards and more R and D should be encouraged in vehicle technology. The air pollution should not be a responsibility of government alone but mass and local leaders should be encouraged to make dedicated efforts to eradicate the air pollution problems. It is the need of time to protect environment for the present and future generation. 

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