In many Indian districts, air pollution levels exceeding national standards have been associated with a substantial increase in death risk. A study found that this exposure raises mortality risk by 86% in newborns, 100-120% in children under five, and 13% in adults.
A team of researchers, including those from the International Institute for Population Sciences in Mumbai, examined fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution levels across over 700 districts. Their study utilized data from the fifth round of the National Family and Health Survey and the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
The study found that households without a separate kitchen had higher mortality rates among newborns and adults. In their study published in GeoHealth, the authors highlighted that in districts where PM2.5 concentrations are at or below the NAAQS level, the death risk for newborns was nearly doubled, and for children under five, it was more than doubled.
Investigating the relationship between PM2.5 levels exceeding the NAAQS (40 micrograms per cubic meter) and household air pollution, the team found a notable rise in mortality rates: 19% higher for newborns, 17% higher for children, and 13% higher for adults.
The authors commented, “The findings indicate that PM2.5 is strongly associated with mortality across various age groups. This association is further intensified when combined with household air pollution.
The authors observed that PM2.5 levels are generally elevated across the Indo-Gangetic Plain in northern India. This is attributed to several factors, including agricultural practices like crop residue burning and emissions from industrial centers and manufacturing hubs.
Moreover, in the middle and lower regions of the Indo-Gangetic Plain and central India, the use of clean fuel and separate kitchens is significantly low. In forest-rich areas like Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and other northeastern states, firewood, along with crop residue and animal dung, provides a readily available but less clean fuel option.
