{"id":9641,"date":"2020-02-22T15:20:55","date_gmt":"2020-02-22T07:20:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/?p=9641"},"modified":"2021-05-20T20:05:17","modified_gmt":"2021-05-20T12:05:17","slug":"did-indias-air-improve-in-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/blog\/did-indias-air-improve-in-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Did India’s Air Improve in 2019?"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Smart Air analysis of new air quality data found that pollution improved in 2019 in all major cities in india. Small PM2.5 particles in the air decreased from 2018 to 2019 by as much as 15.5%.<\/p>\n

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Delhi Air Quality<\/h2>\n

Even though all cities saw pollution decrease, Delhi saw just a meagre 1% decrease. Among India’s five largest cities, Delhi still holds the medal for most polluted at 98 micrograms of PM2.5 (\u00b5g\/m3<\/sup>).<\/p>\n

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This news may come as little surprise to Delhiites, who lived through a declared public health emergency November 1st.<\/p>\n

Delhi Air Quality Worst in Winter, Harmful All Year Long<\/h3>\n

Broken down by month, Delhi’s air pollution closely mirrored 2018. Delhi’s most polluted month in 2019 which averaged 197 micrograms\u2014nearly 20 times the WHO annual limit<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Despite its toxic air, the Cities100 report highlighted the Delhi government’s efforts<\/a> to tackle air pollution. Delhi has declared efforts to close down its dirtiest power stations, subsidize development and procurement of renewables, and increase electric vehicles, including electric buses.<\/p>\n

Kolkata Air Quality<\/h2>\n

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After worsening air in 2018, Kolkata\u2019s PM2.5 pollution decreased 14% in 2019. However, stretching back to 2015, Kolkata is back to where it started, showing no progress over four years.<\/p>\n

The decrease in 2019 might be due to Kolkata’s efforts towards greening people’s commutes, introducing electric buses and ferries. These efforts brought Kolkata to fifth place on the Sustainable Mobility sector<\/a> in the Cities100 report and may bring down pollution in the years to come.<\/p>\n

Mumbai Air Quality Improves In 2019<\/h2>\n

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In Mumbai, PM2.5 fell significantly by 37% in 2019, from 67 micrograms to 42.<\/p>\n

If current plans become reality, lungs in Mumbai may have better days ahead. To fight air pollution, in the second half of 2019, Mumbai submitted an action plan<\/a> that proposed launching electric buses.<\/p>\n

Hyderabad PM2.5 Pollution Drops in 2019<\/h2>\n

Hyderabad air saw a 21% drop in PM2.5 in 2019. PM2.5 dropped from 52 micrograms to 41, although that still puts Hyderabad far above the WHO annual limit.<\/p>\n

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Chennai Air Quality<\/h2>\n

Chennai saw lower PM2.5 in 2019, even after yearly improvement each year since 2016. In 2019, PM2.5 dropped 10% to 26 micrograms, making it the cleanest major city in India.<\/p>\n

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Air Still Unsafe in All Major Indian Cities<\/h3>\n

Despite the progress, PM2.5 in all major Indian Cities are still farm above the WHO Annual Limit of 10 micrograms. This matters because long-term exposure to PM2.5 above 10 micrograms has been shown to increase cardiopulmonary and lung cancer mortality.<\/p>\n

WATCH: The Harmful Health Effects of PM2.5<\/h3>\n
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5 Things You Should Know about PM2.5 Air Pollution<\/div><\/div>
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