Particulate Matter: Spare The Air

“One of the first conditions of happiness is that the link between man and nature shall
not be broken.”
—Leo Tolstoy 

Particulate matter is the sum of all solid and liquid particles suspended in the air, many
of which are hazardous. This complex mixture includes both organic and inorganic
particles, such as dust, pollen, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets. These particles vary
greatly in size, composition, and origin.

Airborne particulate matter represents a complex mixture of organic and inorganic

substances. Mass and composition in urban environments tend to be divided into two
principal groups: coarse particles and fine particles. The barrier between these two
fractions of particles usually lies between 1 µm and 2.5 µm. However, the limit between
coarse and fine particles is sometimes fixed by convention at 2.5 µm in aerodynamic
diameter (PM2.5) for measurement purposes. The smaller particles contain the
secondarily formed aerosols (gas-to-particle conversion), combustion particles and
recondensed organic and metal vapours. The larger particles usually contain earth crust
materials and fugitive dust from roads and industries. The fine fraction contains most of
the acidity (hydrogen ion) and mutagenic activity of particulate matter, although in fog
some coarse acid droplets are also present. Whereas most of the mass is usually in the
fine mode (particles between 100 nm and 2.5 µm), the largest number of particles are
found in the very small sizes, less than 100 nm. As anticipated from the relationship of
particle volume with mass, these so-called ultrafine particles often contribute only a few
% to the mass, at the same time contributing to over 90% of the numbers.

Sources of PM 
 
These  particles  come  in  many  sizes  and  shapes  and  can  be  made  up  of  hundreds  of 
different  chemicals.  Some  are  emitted  directly  from  a  source,  such  as  construction 
sites,  unpaved  roads,  fields,  smokestacks  or  fires.  Most  particles  form  in  the 
atmosphere  as  a  result  of  complex  reactions  of  chemicals such as nitrogen oxides and 
sulfur  dioxides,  which  are  pollutants  emitted  from  power  plants,  industries,  and 
automobiles. 

Effects of Particulate Matter 

 
Particulate  matter  contains  microscopic  solids  or  liquid  droplets  that  are  so  small  that 
they  can  be  inhaled  and  cause  serious  health  problems.  Some  particles  less  than  10 
micrometers  in  diameter  can  get  deep  into your lungs and some may even get into your 
bloodstream.  Exposure  to  such  particles  can  cause  premature  death  in  people  with 
heart  or  lung  disease,  non-fatal  heart  attacks,  decreased  lung  function.  PM  can  stain 
and  damage  stone  and  other  materials,  including  culturally  important  objects  such  as 
statues  and  monuments.  Some  of  these  effects  are  related  to  acid  rain  effects  on 
materials. 
Case of Delhi 
Last year, against all the prior measures taken by the Delhi government, Delhites were
breathing toxic air on the festival with air quality plunging to severe levels. Due to toxic
smoke from firecrackers, the PM 2.5 count increased to 297. There was a spike at 3
a.m. which took the AQI (Air Quality Index) to hazardous levels of over 300 and
condition of air to “very poor” category. These tiny particles can enter deep into the
lungs and even the bloodstream causing various respiratory diseases. The WHO claims
that India faced 60,987 deaths of children under five years of age in 2016 that could be
linked to their exposure to PM 2.5. Scientific studies have linked increases in daily PM
2.5 exposure with increased cardiovascular hospital admissions, emergency
department visits, and deaths. Studies also suggest that long term exposure to fine
particulate matter may be associated with increased rates of chronic bronchitis and
heart disease. People with breathing and heart problems, children and the elderly may
be particularly sensitive to PM 2.5.
India leads the G20 nations in the number of pollution deaths according to recent
reports. In 2017, the effects of pollution led to the deaths of 1.2 million people in India.
The environment in which this occurs is patently conducive to such a high death toll due
to poor air quality. Air pollution has been implicated as a major contributing factor to a
number of health conditions. Among these are lung disease, heart disease, diabetes,
cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease.

It has seriously threatened the health of the residents as well as the environment as
compared with the developed countries, studies on PM2.5 in India are still lagging
behind. However, with the establishment of air quality standards for PM2.5 in recent
years and the development of PM2.5 monitoring stations nationwide in India, research
on PM2.5 in India has gradually been enhanced.

PROBLEM STATEMENTS:

1. The Gujarat government has started a novel emissions trading programme

aimed to cut particulate air pollution and facilitate robust economic growth.
Under the program, the government sets a cap on emissions and allow
industries to buy and sell permits to stay below the cap. Give a critical
analysis of this crucial step taken by the Gujarat government recently
detailing its major advantages and drawbacks. Suggest some more
innovative steps that government can take to curb on the particulate
emission.

2. The study given above gives an account of the recent case of Delhi air
pollution on Diwali. What prior steps did the government of Delhi take to
tackle this problem? Why did these methods fall short to meet their aims?
Suggest a detailed set of measures that the government should take for
avoiding particulate air pollution in the near future.
3. Consider, you are the environmental manager of a coal-based power
generation industry. Now, your industry has been charged with releasing
toxic pollutants through chimneys, which includes the presence of fine
particulates, nitrogen and sulfur oxides, affecting the residential areas. What
measures would you take to reduce the toxicity of released air? Also, what
will be your basis for the approach for the same?

4. The smooth operation of a transportation system demands limited usage of

private vehicles and widespread consumption of public vehicles with
adequate infrastructure to support it. The Odd and Even Scheme
experimented in the city of Delhi where the level of pollution was very high
and had to be controlled immediately to protect the citizens from a poisonous
atmosphere. Discuss how far this method proved to be successful in
controlling level of air pollution in Delhi. Suggest a list of measures which
could have been taken at economic, political and social levels by the
government and administration for better implementation of such schemes.