Do you know we breathe in about 22,000 times in a day? That is a huge count, isn’t it! Air is indeed inevitable for us to live, and it is this very aspect that makes breathing clean air so very important for us. Clean air is rich in oxygen, which plays a central role in enabling our lungs, blood, and other organs to work properly.
Now the big question here is that in an ideal world, do we really have access to clean air?
With air pollution ruling the long list of environmental concerns faced by India, our ability to breathe clean air has now become a far-fetched dream. In fact, it won’t be an exaggeration to say that breathing clean air has become a luxury in the current times, all thanks to the rising levels of air pollution.
The need of the hour is for us to make collective efforts to prevent air pollution so that the generations to come do not have to face health issues related to toxic air. And for that, it is vital to educate the youth about the gravity of the problem. This is exactly what we, at Tribhuvan College, one of the leading environmental science colleges in Delhi NCR, aim to achieve with our 4-years Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Environmental Science, and Water Management program. The course aims to provide the youth with in-depth theoretical and practical knowledge about dealing with the environmental issues that have been impacting our well-being lately.
What is “Clean Air”?
For the last few years, clean air has been something none of us has gotten to experience. Essentially, clean air is the one, which is free from dirt and chemicals.
This kind of air does not contain harmful pollutants. Thus, it is safe to state that air that is 100% non-toxic is what we can term clean air.
However, with air pollution on the rise, it has become essential to take steps to achieve the “clean air” goal.
After being defined as a Pan-India issue, the Government of India went on to introduce the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) in 2019. This is the first of its kind initiative to improve the quality of air. The primary objective of this initiative is to work towards bringing down particulate pollution by 20 to 30% by 2024.
The initiative is indeed a good one, but without the support and participation of the citizens of India, the Government will not be able to achieve the goals. What is important is to join hands and work towards the common goal of fighting air pollution.
There is no denying that air pollution has grown into a serious health concern. Facts are alarming in this regard. In 2019, 30 cities in the world were reported as polluted. What is even more concerning is that 21 out of these 30 cities were found to be in India.
To tackle air pollution, it is necessary that we attend to the root of the problem. Let us begin by looking at the many factors that lead to air pollution.
- 51% of toxic air is a result of industrial pollution
- 27% are vehicle emissions
- 17% is because of crop burning
- Remaining 5% is because of other reasons
Let us have a look at each of these aspects in detail:
- Burning of Fossil Fuels:
When carbon monoxide is found in the air in higher proportions, this is enough reason to believe that fossil fuels are being burnt on a large scale. Likewise, burning fossil fuels pushes up the content of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in the air. These are primarily responsible for forming acidic pollutants in large numbers, which end up making the problem of air toxicity worse. What is even more concerning is that about 30.7% of deaths in India are caused by the burning of fossil fuels that lead to air pollution.
- Agricultural Activities:
Agriculture is a primary activity in India, with about 70% of rural households depending on this activity to make a livelihood. Unfortunately, an activity that is taking care of households on one hand, is responsible for air toxicity on the other.
For crops to grow and thrive, the use of chemically rich fertilizers is on the rise. Likewise, livestock waste is a by-product of agricultural activities as well. Both these put together lead to increasing emissions of ammonia in the air, which directly impact the air quality and further fuels the problem of air pollution in the country.
- Emissions from Vehicles:
Increased use of vehicles has certainly boosted the transportation industry, but if you look at the other side of the coin, it is leaving behind a lot of toxic side effects.
Vehicles are the primary cause of harmful emissions in the air, such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, hydrocarbons, sulphur dioxide, particulate matter, and much more. The key after-effect of these emissions is the problem of air pollution is rapidly moving from bad to worst.
You should know that emissions from vehicles are responsible for creating a hole in the ozone layer, which leads to smog in the air. A smoggy environment is a leading cause of health problems.
- Industrial Emissions:
No denying, industrial development helped mankind to evolve and advance with time. However, this very development also turned out to be one of the major reasons for negatively impacting the quality of air.
Industrial processes are responsible for emitting nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and carbon monoxide into the air. When these are exposed to the air, they end up causing multiple health problems for human beings. These include breathing troubles, throat and eye irritations, and in some cases, chronic illnesses.
Out of all the active industries, there are few industries, which have found a place in the red zone owing to the heavy destruction they are doing to the quality of air. These are listed below:
- Copper plants
- Cement and Power plants
- Distilleries
- Fertilizer plants
- Oil Refineries
- Petrochemicals
- Tanneries
Facts state that almost 15% of the industries operating in India are responsible for contributing to air pollution, while as much as 8% can be held responsible for contributing to both air and water pollution in the country.
- Wildfires:
Yet another contribution to the problem of air pollution is done by wildfires. Wildfires lead to harmful emissions in the air, which include carbon dioxide, black carbon, brown carbon, and ozone precursors, which have a damaging impact on the quality of air.
Wildfires need to be controlled because the damage they cause to the air is likely to affect human beings in the form of lung problems and heart diseases. It is, however, disturbing to note that in India, about 54.40% of forests are exposed to occasional fires, which, if not controlled now, are likely to have a lasting and irreversible impact.
All in all, what you can see above are just some of the primary causes of air toxicity. However, there is much more that needs to be acted upon.
The objective of the 4-years Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Environmental Science, and Water Management course introduced by us at the Tribhuvan College is to sensitize the youth about these triggers so that they can educate people around them and together we can operate as self-motivated change agents.
Heard this yet? Delhi schools and colleges were recently shut down due to air pollution!
At Tribhuvan College, a renowned environmental science college in Delhi NCR, we believe that for children to become aware of the many environmental concerns that are impacting life on earth, it is important for them to receive knowledge in this regard. It is at this naïve age that it becomes possible to mould children into responsible individuals who aim towards making a difference for the betterment of the planet.
However, what if these environmental issues only come in the way of exposing children to such environmental hazards?
One such incident took place in Delhi very recently in November 2021. Soon after, the city got out from celebrating Diwali, the air pollution levels worsened.
The State Authorities were forced to shut down schools and colleges. This was because the proportion of PM2.5, which are tiny particles that clog lungs, was believed to surpass levels laid down by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Even the construction works had to be stopped immediately and coal plants were allowed to only partially operate.
Such instances are nothing less than saddening. To prevent the entire country from moving in this direction, it is important to tackle air toxicity levels at the right time!
By keeping this incident before one’s eyes, every individual should work towards doing his or her bit in reducing air pollution.
So, how do you do that? Simple – Tomorrow, instead of pulling out your car to work, ride a bicycle or opt to walk. Even tiny steps towards a bigger goal matter!
It is quite obvious for most of us to view air pollution as a big problem, which cannot really be resolved at one’s individual level.
Do you think this is really true? We would like to rule that thinking out.
It is very much possible to bring about a series of changes in your life, which, if taken up by each individual, can contribute to the larger objective.
- Conserve energy: You can begin by conserving energy. For instance, make it a daily habit to rely extensively on natural light. If you are in the habit of keeping your lights on even when they are not in use, put reminders to switch off every light that is not being used. Proper insulation can also aid in a big way.
- Travel smart: It is a very common sight to see multiple people working in the same organization traveling from the same location but in their individual cars. Do you want to control air pollution? Try exploring the concept of carpool. You and your colleagues can come together for alternate car rides or car-pooling so that where one car can serve the purpose, four cars are not running on the road. Similarly, you can use other options such as turning to public transportation, biking, or even walking.
- Burn no more: If you or someone you know is in the habit of burning off trash or any other materials, then it is important for you to stop right away! By doing so, you will be restricting the level of air toxicity from going beyond measure.
- Be choosy about your energy suppliers: You have many options to choose from as far as energy suppliers are concerned. If you wish to make a well-informed choice, then research your options and opt for a supplier who uses renewable energy sources.
- Plant more: While the above activities speak a lot about what you should not be doing, there are always things that you should be engaging in to control air pollution. First thing first, you can participate in planting initiatives and plan as many greens as possible. Spread a word and get people from your circle to participate in this noble initiative as well. This is an excellent way of improving air quality not just in the short run but also on a long-term basis.
We, at Tribhuvan College, support each of these methodologies and are much interested in taking these to every student who is a part of our institution. Our 4-years Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Environmental Science, and Water Management course has been planned in such a way that students are enlightened about every big and small area associated with improving the quality of air. We ensure that the umbrella of knowledge for our students does not remain limited to bookish knowledge alone but rather encompasses more realistic and practical solutions that are both viable and effective.
By now, it must be very clear to each one of you that air pollution is an environmental concern, which needs immediate attention. It is high time we take steps to reduce the content of pollutants in the air.
Yes, we understand that the change cannot be introduced overnight. However, we cannot just put down our weapons even before entering the battlefield. Each one of us, who is living on this planet, is responsible for the good and bad that the planet is experiencing. It is high time to end the blame game. Common, let us come together and join the fight against air pollution!
We, at Tribhuvan College, one of the leading environmental science colleges in Delhi NCR, urge you to come forward and be a part of the change movement. As a student, you can come forward and enroll yourself in our 4-years Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Environmental Science, and Water Management course.
This is your opportunity to enrich your knowledge about the environment and make whatever little contribution you can make towards combating the problem of air pollution. Remember, every bit counts!