It used to be that air pollution affected Mumbai when the weather was cold, yet now that it is hot, the Air Quality Index (AQI) remains poor. Though sadly, it’s not surprising at all – like many other Mumbaikars, I live next to a construction site, so, like all of us, I know.
While construction sites in Mumbai differ – interiors, private builders or infrastructure construction – one thing they have in common is their alarming levels of noise and air pollution afflicting us all.
On Sunday morning, the official air quality index (AQI) in Mumbai was ‘unhealthy’ at 158. The PM2.5 component of this AQI (fine particles 30 times thinner than a human hair, small enough to easily enter the lungs and cause a serious adverse health effects) was 69.5μg/m3, or WHO Annual Air Quality Guidelines was 13.9 times higher than the value.
While this PM2.5 level is already bad enough, the PM 2.5 in my bedroom crossed 300 µ/m3 at the same time. PM 2.5 is a component of AQI and such high PM 2.5 readings indicate an even higher AQI. Not surprisingly, many people in my family suffer from allergic diseases.
The Mumbai Climate Action Plan (MCAP) 2022 was unveiled by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who repeatedly highlighted his personal and institutional concern for the importance of controlling activities leading to climate change, including air pollution.
Mumbai’s AQI has been worse than Delhi many times this year. To mitigate Mumbai’s high AQI, MCAP 2022 highlights strict and timely monitoring of data collection and construction sites.
PM 2.5 is the most dangerous component of AQI. Several times over the past several months, the official AQI (measured at fixed air monitoring stations) in Mumbai has recorded over 300 ug/m3 in the hazardous category, with equally high PM2.5 levels. However, Mumbai has denied direct responsibility and attributed this increase to dust storms in other parts of the world.
Despite this, the MCAP confirms that “the concentration of these air pollutants in the city is highly localised.” This highlights that dust from construction contributes 8% to Mumbai’s AQI, which includes 3.2 per cent from the Mumbai Metro project alone.
On Sunday, the construction work came to a standstill due to the instructions of the Mumbai Police Commissioner to the builders. Similarly the air pollution in my bedroom decreased. After several hours, this PM 2.5 remained in the range of 100-150 and by evening it reduced to PM 2.5 65-70.
Signs are clear that air pollution near actively polluting sites is much higher than Mumbai’s official AQI, as demonstrated by PM2.5 over 300 micrograms per cubic meter in my bedroom on Sunday morning and It was reduced in a single day when the construction stopped. The MCAP has also confirmed that air pollution is highly localised.
MCAP says, “Improvements in stationary and dynamic monitoring systems to enhance information access, leading to hotspot trends and forecasting mechanisms will help in issuing timely warnings to local areas, or times of day where people are at greater risk.” and will help reduce individual risk.”
While such timely warnings will certainly benefit us, and I hope the MCGM will heed my request to issue a public health advisory on worsening AQI several weeks ago, a formal request to Mumbaikars to confirm our own risk No need to wait for measurement. Citizens can lead the campaign for data collection by measuring personal air pollution exposure through display on air purifiers in our homes or offices. We can also measure exposure in our daily activities using a simple hand-held meter readily available online that will report pollutants next to a variety of activities.
The temporary halt in construction activity on Sunday resulted in improved PM2.5 in the immediate vicinity of the site next to my house (though still in the poor category.) MCAP data on personal exposure to reduce the air quality index considers important. ,
Also, the government’s own major projects like metro construction and others that they have given permission, contribute significantly to our deteriorating AQI.
We are exposed to unnecessarily high air pollution levels as there is no enforcement of environmental safeguards. The government’s own policies and infrastructure building have led to an increase in air pollution and they have actively sought exemption from and violated their own environmental laws to build infrastructure.
Our own personal health care costs are high and the need for personal data is pressing. Citizens’ science data has the potential to accelerate government action through large-scale on-the-ground surveillance and citizen participation.
Only we, the people, can ultimately drive the policies and ensure their implementation in infrastructure and private building planning and permissions. Mumbaikars, please stand up for your right to clean air and demand enforcement of environmental laws for construction!
Disclaimer
The views expressed above are those of the author.
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