Official radio partner - Radio City 91.1
Decision maker: Dr Shanth A. Thimmaiah Chairman, Karnataka state pollution control board.
Update:
In March 2023, the BBMP allocated Rs. 450 Crore towards tackling the air pollution issue in Bengaluru by building flyovers, parks and water fountains. They did not specify how they would tackle a major contributor of the worsening air quality - construction dust.
Bengalurueans breathe air five times worse than the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines - as per Greenpeace India’s report
The 3 major pollutants and respective concentrations for Bangalore could be found here
PM 2.5: Annual average concentration is 5.8 times higher than the safe levels set by the WHO.
PM 10: PM10 concentration was found to be 3.7 times higher than the safe levels
NO2: Annual NO2 concentration was found to be 1.8 times higher than the safe levels.
Another study, conducted by researchers from the National Institute of Advanced Studies and BMS College of Engineering in the city claims high levels of particulate matter (PM 2.5 and PM 10) in the atmosphere claimed approximately 80,000 lives in Bengaluru.
Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) was the most common health issue due to high exposure to PM leading to premature deaths, followed by Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Cerebrovascular Disease (CEV, Stroke), Lung Cancer in adults, and Acute Lower Respiratory Illness in children.
The study highlights that exposure to PM, especially PM 2.5, is known to cause many health issues and these particles have a direct connection to health conditions that can be fatal.
Any further deterioration in air quality will leave Bengaloreans at a much higher risk of contracting these health issues.
Post Covid, People are using various modes of transport, adding to air pollution. To add to this, industries too have started functioning up to the pre covid levels.
“All these factors have contributed to the irritants that cause various lung issues. Construction and urban planning activities are also adding to the already deteriorating air quality which hampers lung health leading to a higher number of cases,” said Dr Pavan Yadav, a pulmonologist at Aster RV Hospital
“The health risks associated with PM depend on the size, shape, surface area, and chemical composition of the particles. Generally, the smaller the particles, the more harmful they are, as they can reach deeper into the respiratory system and cross biological barriers,” added Dr Yadav.
Children, the elderly, pregnant women, people with pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular diseases, and people living in low-income or polluted areas are more vulnerable to the adverse effects of PM.
Some of the measures that can be taken care:
KSPCB needs to set up 30 more real-time air quality monitoring stations across Bengaluru
The data of these monitoring stations to be available in the public domain
Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) must introduce new national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) based on the updated WHO air quality guidelines which are based on the latest scientific understanding.
KSPCB needs to mandate dust pollution sensors at construction sites as well as foggers to mitigate construction dust
Sign the petition
Demand and action plan from KSPCB to address the air pollution crisis in Bengaluru.
Official radio partner - Radio City 91.1
Decision maker: Dr Shanth A. Thimmaiah Chairman, Karnataka state pollution control board.
Update:
In March 2023, the BBMP allocated Rs. 450 Crore towards tackling the air pollution issue in Bengaluru by building flyovers, parks and water fountains. They did not specify how they would tackle a major contributor of the worsening air quality - construction dust.
Bengalurueans breathe air five times worse than the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines - as per Greenpeace India’s report
The 3 major pollutants and respective concentrations for Bangalore could be found here
PM 2.5: Annual average concentration is 5.8 times higher than the safe levels set by the WHO.
PM 10: PM10 concentration was found to be 3.7 times higher than the safe levels
NO2: Annual NO2 concentration was found to be 1.8 times higher than the safe levels.
Another study, conducted by researchers from the National Institute of Advanced Studies and BMS College of Engineering in the city claims high levels of particulate matter (PM 2.5 and PM 10) in the atmosphere claimed approximately 80,000 lives in Bengaluru.
Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) was the most common health issue due to high exposure to PM leading to premature deaths, followed by Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Cerebrovascular Disease (CEV, Stroke), Lung Cancer in adults, and Acute Lower Respiratory Illness in children.
The study highlights that exposure to PM, especially PM 2.5, is known to cause many health issues and these particles have a direct connection to health conditions that can be fatal.
Any further deterioration in air quality will leave Bengaloreans at a much higher risk of contracting these health issues.
Post Covid, People are using various modes of transport, adding to air pollution. To add to this, industries too have started functioning up to the pre covid levels.
“All these factors have contributed to the irritants that cause various lung issues. Construction and urban planning activities are also adding to the already deteriorating air quality which hampers lung health leading to a higher number of cases,” said Dr Pavan Yadav, a pulmonologist at Aster RV Hospital
“The health risks associated with PM depend on the size, shape, surface area, and chemical composition of the particles. Generally, the smaller the particles, the more harmful they are, as they can reach deeper into the respiratory system and cross biological barriers,” added Dr Yadav.
Children, the elderly, pregnant women, people with pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular diseases, and people living in low-income or polluted areas are more vulnerable to the adverse effects of PM.
Some of the measures that can be taken care:
KSPCB needs to set up 30 more real-time air quality monitoring stations across Bengaluru
The data of these monitoring stations to be available in the public domain
Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) must introduce new national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) based on the updated WHO air quality guidelines which are based on the latest scientific understanding.
KSPCB needs to mandate dust pollution sensors at construction sites as well as foggers to mitigate construction dust
Sign the petition
Demand and action plan from KSPCB to address the air pollution crisis in Bengaluru.