Delhi Air Quality: Impact on Residents and Policy Recommendations

This report provides a comprehensive policy analysis of the impact of air quality on the respiratory and cardiovascular health of Delhi residents. The study highlights the severity of air pollution in Delhi, referencing data from the WHO and other sources, and details the adverse health effects, including respiratory tract dysfunctions, chronic conditions, and cardiovascular events. It examines the existing policies and their shortcomings, emphasizing the need for more effective strategies to mitigate air pollution. The report reviews the actions taken by the Delhi government and neighboring states, such as the implementation of anti-pollution drives, industry closures, and restrictions on vehicular movement. Furthermore, it delves into the literature review, citing studies that link air pollution to increased mortality rates and various health problems. The report also includes a policy analysis section that formulates the problem, outlines policy objectives, identifies decision parameters, and explores alternative strategies for the Department of Environment and Forests to consider. The report concludes by emphasizing the urgent need for effective and long-term solutions to improve air quality and protect the health of Delhi's residents.

Running head: AIR QUALITY AND ITS IMPACT ON DELHI RESIDENTS
Air Quality and Its Impact On Delhi Residents
Name of the Student:
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Author Note:

1AIR QUALITY AND ITS IMPACT ON DELHI RESIDENTS
Abstract
The policy analysis will provide an insight into the impact of the air quality on to the respiratory
and cardiovascular mortality in Delhi, India. While at the same time policy analysis will help to
address the problem of air quality in depth. Additionally, the policy analysis will help in
examining the arguments that are related to a specific policy, and the ways of implementing a
policy. There is a need for the policy analysis because the existing policies in Delhi were unable
to manage and mitigate the air quality. This led to show respiratory tract dysfunctions as the
most commonly reported problems. The health issues ranged from chronic conditions (COPD
and asthma) to acute infections (bronchitis and pneumonia). Other studies have also shown that
the air pollution has a significant association with eye irritation, dizziness, headache,
cardiovascular events, hypertension, COPD, bronchial asthma, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, chest
tightness, phlegm and cough. This study is based on the analysis of the impact of air quality on to
the respiratory and cardiovascular mortality in Delhi, India.

2AIR QUALITY AND ITS IMPACT ON DELHI RESIDENTS
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
The action plan................................................................................................................................4
Literature Review............................................................................................................................5
Policy Analysis................................................................................................................................9
Rationale for the policy analysis..................................................................................................9
Formulating the problem...........................................................................................................11
Objectives of policy...................................................................................................................13
Identification of decision parameters, constraints and contingent factors.................................15
Search for alternatives: effectiveness, context, capacity of Delhi, India to implement the
strategy.......................................................................................................................................16
Policy proposals for considerations by the Department of Environment and Forests...............18
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................20
Reference.......................................................................................................................................21

3AIR QUALITY AND ITS IMPACT ON DELHI RESIDENTS
Introduction
In the urban areas, air pollution contributes to the majority of the health problems. Lately,
the status of air pollution in India has undergone several changes and at the different levels and
due to this several control measures have been considered. The database released by the WHO
has revealed that the PM10 has exceeded the maximum levels set and it is almost 10 times more
than the maximum levels (198 mirogram/m3). The outdoor and the indoor pollution in Delhi is
caused by the both the industrial and the vehicular emission. several studies on the residents of
Delhi have showed that the majority of the mortality and morbidity is caused due to the elevated
level of deteriorating air quality. Although it has been seen that to reduce the levels of air
pollution, Delhi government along with the federal government has taken several measures to
reduce the impact the air pollution on the residents of Delhi. In the year 1997, a report was
published by the Ministry of Environment and Forests and it reviewed the environmental
condition prevailing in Delhi due to the deteriorating condition in Delhi1. Pollution is major
concern in the town and cities and is caused due to the input of contaminants in the environment
(soil, water and air that might cause adverse conditions in the environment). The Delhi
government has taken a wide array of steps to address issues that are related to improper waste
disposal, industrial pollution, vehicular pollution and air, water pollution in the metropolis, towns
and cities. Delhi along with the neighbouring states includes the Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and
Haryana. These regions have been under a constant cover of smog for several weeks. The
pollution levels have been recorded to be severely high and some areas like Ghaziabad, Noida,
Bhiwadi and Anand Vihar are considered as hotspots in Delhi. The four areas are the worst
sufferers and are under the scanner of Environmental Pollution Control Authority (EPCA). The
1 indianexpress.com. "The 10 Steps Aimed At Curbing Rising Air Pollution Levels In Delhi". The Indian Express,
2018, https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/the-steps-aimed-at-curbing-rising-air-pollution-levels-
in-delhi/. Accessed 20 Oct 2018.

4AIR QUALITY AND ITS IMPACT ON DELHI RESIDENTS
EPCA gave direct orders to the Delhi government to have a time bound plan so that the air over
the hotspots can be cleaned2.
The action plan
State governments as well as the various city authorities took steps to reduce the air
pollution that are making it difficult for the residents that are residing in the Delhi-NCR. Some of
the major steps that are taken for the reduction of pollution in Delhi are as follows:
 An anti-pollution drive was initiated by the greater Noida Development Authority
(GNIDA). Within this strategy, the GNIDA has divided the city into five major
zones and to bring a fair system into the strategy, a team is formed. The team is
capable of penalising the ones that will violate the green norms and the National
Green Tribunal (NGT). The GNIDA also took initiative to allow people to take up
steps and make people aware. GNIDA also have urged people to complain if they
have noticed anybody violating the norms. A penalty was set by GNIDA and it
ranged from 5,000 to 500,000 and it depended on the severity of the violation3.
 The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) took steps and ordered the
closure of the 123 industries that included the eight big sugar mills. These sugar
mills were located in the Delhi-NCR region. Along with these, the UPCCB fined
2 economictimes.indiatimes.com. "Govt Has Made 'Serious' Efforts To Curb Air Pollution: Govt After WHO
Report". The Economic Times, 2018, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/environment/pollution/govt-has-
made-serious-efforts-to-curb-air-pollution-govt-after-who-report/articleshow/64003558.cms. Accessed 20 Oct 2018.
3 Business-standard.com. "Government Has Taken Series Of Steps To Address Pollution-Related Issues:
Environment Minister". Business-Standard.Com, 2018, https://www.business-standard.com/article/government-
press-release/government-has-taken-series-of-steps-to-address-pollution-related-issues-116071901137_1.html.
Accessed 20 Oct 2018.

5AIR QUALITY AND ITS IMPACT ON DELHI RESIDENTS
vehicles for violating the pollution control norms. The UPPCB also ordered the
shutdown of the 88 factories and a total of 315 factories remains suspended4.
 The Noida Authority that was being formed by the NGT fined about 31 lakhs of
rupees from the ones that violated the green norms which are being laid down by
National Green Tribunal.
 Water sprinklers were used by the civic authorities and this helped in reducing the
and curbing the dust pollution which is a major contributor to the smog in NCR.
 National Green Tribunal took stern actions and banned the industrial and the
construction activities and along with it banned the entry of trucks into the Delhi-
NCR5.
Literature Review
Reports published by Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Government of National
Capital Territory of Delhi has shown that higher percentage of death has occurred due to diseases
in the circulatory and respiratory systems6. The data showed that in the year 2009 (24.9%) the
percentage of deaths is far more in comparison to the deaths occurring in the year 2005 (16.4%).
Both the percentages have been found to have a direct link with air pollution. Studies and
researches have highlighted that the exposure to the vehicular pollution has increased the
pollution thrice and along with it the occurrence of health issues relating to allergy, heart
diseases and asthma. The effect of the particulate matter on the age, gender and health have been
4 Schindler, Seth, and Brij Kishore. "Why Delhi cannot plan its ‘new towns’: The case of solid waste management in
Noida." Geoforum 60 (2015): 33-42.
5 Teriin.org. "Air | TERI". Teriin.Org, 2018, http://www.teriin.org/air. Accessed 20 Oct 2018.
6 Rizwan, S. A., Baridalyne Nongkynrih, and Sanjeev Kumar Gupta. "Air pollution in Delhi: its magnitude and
effects on health." Indian journal of community medicine: official publication of Indian Association of Preventive &
Social Medicine 38.1 (2013): 4.

6AIR QUALITY AND ITS IMPACT ON DELHI RESIDENTS
found to be significant. Young people aged 24 years when exposed to the 300 micrograms of
PM10 have shown elevated levels of neutrophil and platelet in the peripheral blood. The exposure
of PM2.5 in young girls have shown elevated levels of RBS in the haemoglobin while similar kind
of observation was noticed in the young men. While it has been found through researches that
the there is a decreased level of fibrinogen, RBC and platelet in people aged above 60 years7.
Due to the hazardous level of pollution in Delhi, Indian Medical Association (IMA)
called for a public health emergency and the various health experts have warned people of
avoiding activities like jogging and cycling. Air pollution is a major health risk for the people
living in Delhi and its outskirts. The air quality index is found to be severely high with high
levels of 2.5 particulate matter at several places. Air pollution has potential to cause acute
respiratory disease, chronic respiratory disease, lung cancer, heart disease, stroke. According to
World Health Organization, 92 percent of the population lives in places where air quality is
below the standards of specified by WHO8. About 88 percent of the premature deaths occur in
middle to low income countries, where pollution increases at an alarming rate. The air pollution
is a major cause of concern for the Delhi residents because of the various health effects that arise
from the elevated levels of smog in the area. The various harmful effects are: high levels of smog
aggravate the existing cardiac and lung functions and this occurs along with the shortness of
breath, wheezing, and chronic coughing; decreases the functioning of the lungs across all types
of age groups; causes premature deaths; high levels of smog decreases the immunity of lungs,
aggravates exiting allergies and onset of allergies9. A draft was released by the ministry of
7 Guttikunda, Sarath K., and Rahul Goel. "Health impacts of particulate pollution in a megacity—Delhi,
India." Environmental Development 6 (2013): 8-20.
8 Nagpure, Ajay Singh, Bhola Ram Gurjar, and J. C. Martel. "Human health risks in national capital territory of
Delhi due to air pollution." Atmospheric Pollution Research 5.3 (2014): 371-380.
9 Khillare, Pandit S., and Sayantan Sarkar. "Airborne inhalable metals in residential areas of Delhi, India:
distribution, source apportionment and health risks." Atmospheric pollution research 3.1 (2012): 46-54.

7AIR QUALITY AND ITS IMPACT ON DELHI RESIDENTS
environment, forests and climate change on the National Clean Air Program (NCAP). This plan
was to formulated to address the problem of air pollution in major cities. The environmentalists
initially welcomed the program as the primary focus lied on the Delhi-National Capital Region.
However, the major issues were the lack of clearer targets and timelines. The deterioration of air
quality in Delhi led to the constitution of a body called Environmental pollution (prevention and
control) Authority (EPCA). EPCA issued a severe plus graded response plan and it was
highlighted by the environmentalist that the air pollution beyond anybody’s control. Prominent
environmentalists pointed that government must put effort in to stopping the air pollution to
reach an emergency level. While the environmentalists also emphasized that the government
must focus on the long term plan to reduce the emissions10. Delhi government took a series of
steps for the reduction of the air quality index from the very poor category to the moderate range.
Majority of the pollution reduction is played by the Delhi government and the strategies include
are: pollution checking by the transport department, tightening the emission standards of the new
vehicles, phasing out the older vehicles, rapid mass transport system, implementation of the
catalytic converters, increasing of public awareness11.
The various strategies taken up by the Delhi government in the reduction of pollution are
phased out at different time depending on the need. The first strategy formulated was based on
the checking of pollution by the transport department. Mobile enforcements teams are posted in
various road section on a regular basis and they are deployed at the various location so the
polluting vehicles can be prosecuted and whether the vehicles are having the PUC certificates is
10 Bauer, Joanne R. Forging Environmentalism: Justice, Livelihood, and Contested Environments: Justice,
Livelihood, and Contested Environments. Routledge, 2015.
11 Mohan, Manju, et al. "Emission inventory of air pollutants and trend analysis based on various regulatory
measures over megacity Delhi." Air Quality-New Perspective. InTech, 2012.

8AIR QUALITY AND ITS IMPACT ON DELHI RESIDENTS
checked. The second strategy emphasises on increasing the public awareness. Public awareness
is increased through the various campaigns that are conducted by raising the social
consciousness on varying issues and at the same time educate the motorists regarding the engine
maintenance, engine tuning, statutory provisions, spreading awareness on the health hazards12.
The third strategy is the application of the catalytic converters for the 4-wheel petrol vehicles
that are registered and sold in Delhi. The 4th strategy is the inclusion of the rapid mass transport
system which is used with the objective of making less pollution or zero pollution and this will
have the affordable and efficient rail based transport system. This transport system will be
integrating with the other modes of transport. The 5th strategy emphasizes on the phasing out of
the commercial vehicles that are old. With the view to reduce the pollution in the Delhi, the
transport/commercial vehicles that are older than the 15 years are banned along with the taxis,
autos and buses that uses conventional fuel and diesel respectively. The 6th strategy pertains to
the tightening of the emission standards in the vehicles. The norms of mass emission are
tightened for all the categories in the year 1996 and 200013.
The people that reside in Delhi are the worst sufferers and due to this several views of the
people are considered in the study as well. People have expressed that they only step outside of
their house inly when it is very important; the present state of condition is considered as a state
of emergency and this is considered as a business as usual; the atmosphere smells like petrol and
this makes horrible to breath14. Environmental regulation is one of the renowned theory which is
12 Dholakia, Hem H., et al. "Impact of current policies on future air quality and health outcomes in Delhi, India."
Atmospheric environment 75 (2013): 241-248.
13 Nagpure, Ajay S., Ketki Sharma, and Bhola R. Gurjar. "Traffic induced emission estimates and trends (2000–
2005) in megacity Delhi." Urban Climate 4 (2013): 61-73.
14 Yamamoto, S. S., R. Phalkey, and A. A. Malik. "A systematic review of air pollution as a risk factor for
cardiovascular disease in South Asia: limited evidence from India and Pakistan." International journal of hygiene
and environmental health 217.2-3 (2014): 133-144.

9AIR QUALITY AND ITS IMPACT ON DELHI RESIDENTS
based on the pollution control and the conservation management. The governmental policies are
targeted towards the management and control of the polluting sources that causes the majority of
the pollution. The proper management and mitigation policies help the residents that are the
worst sufferers of pollution15.
Policy Analysis
Rationale for the policy analysis
Considering the present and worsening condition of air quality it is important to carry out
a policy analysis. The policy analysis will provide an insight into the impact of the air quality on
to the respiratory and cardiovascular mortality in Delhi, India. While at the same time policy
analysis will help to address the problem of air quality in depth. Additionally, the policy analysis
will help in examining the arguments that are related to a specific policy, and the ways of
implementing a policy. There is a need for the policy analysis because the existing policies in
Delhi were unable to manage and mitigate the air quality. This led to show respiratory tract
dysfunctions as the most commonly reported problems. The health issues ranged from chronic
conditions (COPD and asthma) to acute infections (bronchitis and pneumonia). Other studies
have also shown that the air pollution has a significant association with eye irritation, dizziness,
headache, cardiovascular events, hypertension, COPD, bronchial asthma, sinusitis, allergic
rhinitis, chest tightness, phlegm and cough. Studies and researches have highlighted that the
exposure to the vehicular pollution has increased the pollution thrice and along with it the
occurrence of health issues relating to allergy, heart diseases and asthma16. The effect of the
particulate matter on the age, gender and health have been found to be significant. Young people
15 Greenstone, Michael, and Rema Hanna. "Environmental regulations, air and water pollution, and infant mortality
in India." American Economic Review 104.10 (2014): 3038-72.
16 Greenstone, Michael, and Rema Hanna. "Environmental regulations, air and water pollution, and infant mortality
in India." American Economic Review 104.10 (2014): 3038-

10AIR QUALITY AND ITS IMPACT ON DELHI RESIDENTS
aged 24 years when exposed to the 300 micrograms of PM10 have shown elevated levels of
neutrophil and platelet in the peripheral blood. The exposure of PM2.5 in young girls have shown
elevated levels of RBS in the haemoglobin while similar kind of observation was noticed in the
young men. While it has been found through researches that the there is a decreased level of
fibrinogen, RBC and platelet in people aged above 60 years. Generally, it has been noticed that
exposure to air pollution has led to high count of haemoglobin and RBC in men while the
oxidized protein in plasma, fibrinogen, and platelets are high in women17. Thus, it can be seen
that the health issues arising due to the worsening air quality calls for reassessment of efficacy of
the existing policies. The existing strategies related to controlling air pollution in the Urban
centres or specifically in Delhi included the application of several strategies. The strategies
pertained to controlling and the negative aspects of the urbanization which included city
management and planning; controlling the burning of refuse; maintaining a clean and quality
road; controlling dust at the construction sites; management of travel management; management
of the transportation sector; public transportation; non-motorized transport; vehicle emission
norms and fuel quality norm; maintenance and inspection program, retrofit and scrap
programmes, improvement of the of congestion and promotion of driving cycle; transit bypass;
electric mobility; transition from road to rail freight movements; environmental fees and taxes;
vigilance and enforcement within the industries; negating challenges in the power sector;
managing the agricultural activities properly18.
17 Shah, Anoop SV, et al. "Global association of air pollution and heart failure: a systematic review and meta-
analysis." The Lancet 382.9897 (2013): 1039-1048.
18 Teriin.org. "Measures To Control Air Pollution In Urban Centres Of India: Policy And Institutional Framework".
Teriin.Org, 2018, http://www.teriin.org/sites/default/files/2018-03/policy-brief-air-pollution-in-urban-centres-of-
India.pdf. Accessed 11 Oct 2018.

11AIR QUALITY AND ITS IMPACT ON DELHI RESIDENTS
Formulating the problem
Air pollution acting through the general mechanistic pathways have led to heart and lung-
related diseases that include the inflammation, systematic oxidative stress, pulmonary oxidative
stress and this promotes atherosclerosis, alters the normal cardiac functions. There is a consensus
among the studies that say fine and the coarse particles are the primary contributors to the overall
toxicity of the airways and the lungs. While the ultrafine and the fine particles contribute to the
toxicity of the blood vessels and heart. However, it was later found that beside air pollution not
only affects the respiratory system but also affects the cardiovascular system19. The long-term
exposure has shown to increase the risk of the cardiovascular disease and chronic pulmonary
diseases and even to death. Even studies have shown a greater number of deaths have due to
death from the cardiovascular disease rather than the pulmonary diseases. A study was conducted
to find out the effect of air pollution on the residents of Delhi. The annual average data were
monitored and estimated by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in Delhi. The health
risk was estimated district wise after monitoring the concentration data in each station. In New
Delhi, a majority of the hospital admission has been registered due to the respiratory mortality
and cardiovascular mortality and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease20. The cardiovascular
mortality rates have been registered to be 27 for the year 1991, 51 in the year 1995, 23 in the
year 2000, 35 in the year 2005, and 42 in the year 2010. While the results reveal that the
particulate matter has been the main cause for the majority of the cardiovascular mortality. In
Central Delhi, the highest number of mortality rates are found to be all-time high due to the
elevated levels of pollutant in the year 1991. This increasing trend in the mortality rates is also
19 Tiwari, S., et al. "Statistical evaluation of PM 10 and distribution of PM 1, PM 2.5, and PM 10 in ambient air due
to extreme fireworks episodes (Deepawali festivals) in megacity Delhi." Natural hazards 61.2 (2012): 521-531.
20 Shah, Anoop SV, et al. "Global association of air pollution and heart failure: a systematic review and meta-
analysis." The Lancet 382.9897 (2013): 1039-1048.