Air Pollution Causes 9.8 Million Global Deaths Annually, Including 2 Million in India
Why in News?
- Dr. Sukumar Debnath, a noted microbiologist and CEO of the Centre for Study on Environmental Microbiology, raised serious concerns about rising air pollution and its deadly impact during an interview. His remarks especially highlight the increasing pollution levels in Guwahati and its global consequences.
Important Key Points:
-
Global Concern:
-
Air pollution is a worldwide issue causing approximately 9.8 million deaths annually.
-
In India, around 2 million people die each year due to air pollution.
-
-
Expert Insights:
-
Dr. Sukumar Debnath is a former microbiologist from Tocklai Tea Research Institute (TTRI) and currently heads the Centre for Study on Environmental Microbiology.
-
He stated that rainfall provides only temporary relief from air pollution.
-
-
Pollution Composition:
-
Air pollution has two main components:
-
Abiotic: Chemical gases and compounds (like CO₂, NO₂, SO₂, etc.)
-
Biotic: Fungal spores, bacteria, pollen grains, animal hair, etc.
-
-
More research is needed on biotic pollutants, as data is currently limited.
-
-
Air Quality Index (AQI):
-
AQI includes multiple pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, CO₂, methane, NO₂, ozone, ammonia, etc.
-
To calculate AQI, at least three pollutants are considered including PM2.5 and PM10.
-
-
AQI Levels Explained:
-
0-50: Good
-
51-100: Satisfactory
-
101-200: Moderate
-
201-300: Poor
-
301-400: Very Poor
-
401-500: Severe
-
-
Urban Pollution:
-
In urban cities like Guwahati, vehicular emissions combine with pollutants, forming a complex mixture of harmful chemicals.
-
