McKee 1

Zack McKee

Mr. Phillips

English III

8 May 2017

Air Pollution in India

Imagine stepping outside of the front door in the morning and not even being able to take a deep

breath. Imagine one gust of wind causing harsh coughing and itchy eyes. Sadly, conditions like these are

what are now common in many Indian cities due to heavy air pollution. The problem of air pollution in

India is one that is becoming increasingly worse, and one that is affecting not only the people of India but

the environment, monuments, and financial stability as well. Along with air pollution, the mass

industrialization and automobile use in India is more or less crushing the country as it weakens its

economy, environment, public health, and reputation. Countless examples of cases of respiratory disease

in humans and erosion of great monuments and important buildings source from the surrounding polluted

air in India, and it must change.

The issue of air pollution in India is one that simply cannot be overlooked. Geeta Anand explains

the severity of Indias air pollution problem and how it has skyrocketed into first place in the world.

Indias death rate from air pollution (1.1 million people per year) now surpasses that of Chinas, and from

1990 to 2015 the increase of early and young deaths from this pollution has increased by 50%. Any issue

that causes a spike in death rates as radical as this is an absolute catastrophe, and needs to be solved or the

effects lessened as quickly as possible. According to Eleanor Ross, pollution in Delhi ranges from stirred

dust by the public to overuse of home luxuries such as stoves. However automobile use spikes to the top

due to diesel engines, topping at 1/3 of the entire citys sources. Not to mention the effect that the

increasing amount of landfills are having on the citys health, which simply burn items that could have

been recycled, exposing the surrounding atmosphere to harsh, unfriendly contaminants. Shocking, almost

guilty evidence like this that proves that humans are indirectly causing the death of other fellow humans

is not unnoticed by many of the citizens of India.

 McKee 2

Citizens of India, in New Delhi particularly, are taking notice of the reality and severity of the

effects that air pollution is having on everyday life. Eleanor Ross explains a few sources of the recent

heavy pollution towards New Delhi and provides an inside opinion using an actual citizen of the city:

Things had deteriorated quickly after October, when thousands of farmers in the nearby state of

Punjab burned straw left over from their rice harvests, blowing smoke toward Delhi. At the end

of the month, during the Hindu festival of Diwali, residents set off celebratory firecrackers

against the advice of the government, making the pollution even worse. The day after Diwali,

photojournalist and Delhi resident Zacharie Rabehi said the smog was so dense that "I couldn't

see my hand at the end of my arm. The negative firsthand observations and descriptions of the

pollution show the harsh reality of living a life surrounded by contaminated air. Another example of a

firsthand account from an Indian magazine describes just how much the issue is wrecking the

environment and scenery of many cities. Using metaphors and imagery to convey their point about the

destruction being caused from pollution in India, an article from India Today provides the following:

Plants wilting by the highways, the laboured rise and fall of an infant chest, the soupy smog that sits on

many of our cities every winter, or the charred smell after Diwali we sense air pollution in many ways.

This unnerving statement reaches into the hearts of the people and frightens them by suggesting that this

rising problem is in fact diminishing the lives of many, including innocent infant babies.

Although air pollution in India is linked to a wide variety of causes, the outstanding and main

cause, by far, is diesel engines. In an article, Natalie Pearson explains the effects that automobile use,

especially diesel, are having both environmentally and financially in India. The main source of pollution

in India comes from the diesel exhaust systems that crowd the city, even surpassing the amount of

pollution in cities like Beijing and Shanghai. The diesel fuels used in India excrete 10 times the

carcinogenic particles found in gasoline exhaust, and these lead directly to many respiratory diseases,

heart attacks, and lung cancer. Conditions like these are becoming increasingly more common in

everyone living in these areas, however specifically in young and developing children. Is this fair to the
 McKee 3

children of India who have nothing to do with the outstandingly high amount of automobile pollution?

Pearson also explains how the lack of advancement of diesel fuel in India is so worrisome for the health

of the cities by comparing Indias innovation to Europes. Indias diesel-powered cars comply with

emission standards that are at least nine years behind Europes. These cars will remain on the roads for

years even if tougher rules are introduced says Anup Bandivadekar, India program director for the ICCT.

The longer these lesser diesel vehicles are on the road, the more waste and emissions are pumped out into

the atmosphere. And it will continue to increase exponentially as the vehicles become even older. Diesel

pollution in India is the leading source of harm, however there are others that when combined with diesel

pollution make taking a walk in the cities of India a living nightmare.

Another leading source of air pollution in India is from the growing and spreading of

manufacturing and industrialization, which bring issues that affect the entirety of the country of India

ranging from the environment to public health. The expansion of farmlands and houses requires an

abundance of wood, leading to deforestation. Factories and fires that occur across the country cause

severe air pollution, leading to massive amounts of respiratory diseases that exist. And soil erosion,

another existing issue is caused from droughts, floods, and manufacturing of structures (Leuthold).

Environmental problems such as these that originate from manufacturing and industrializing in India are

both indirect and direct. The soil erosion is not directly caused by manufacturing; in fact it is mainly

caused by weather like floods. However, industrialization is still a major factor. While there may be

positives to industrialization, an article from Down to Earth explains that the negatives completely

outweigh them. Industrialization has led to environmental degradation in terms of industrial pollution.

With industries operating, a 100 per cent pollution-free environment is a myth. While many may argue

the fact that pollution cannot be completely stopped and that there will always be some amount of it, the

fact of the matter is that most of it can be stopped, and the harsh, irreversible changes that have been

made to the environment by industry are no exception.

Though the leading sources of pollution come from automobiles and industry, there are many

other smaller sources that have nearly as much impact and harm on the Indian environment and economy.
 McKee 4

An example of a smaller and often overlooked issue of air pollution in India is the issue of the misuse of

mercury waste. According the Dinesh Sharma, the effect that the misuse of mercury waste is having on

the people, animals, and sceneries of Indian cities is excruciating. Mercury and its compounds bio

accumulate in the food chain including in fish and can cause severe neurological, physical, and

kidney-based disorders. According to the report, high mercury concentrations have been found in

groundwater, rivers, and in fish, as well as the blood of human beings. As the mercury waste is

wrongfully dumped into surrounding rivers and other water sources, it quickly spreads into every other

aspect of the environment. The cycle begins with organisms inhabiting the waters and branches to other

organisms that consume the water or species living there. Chain reactions like this are deadly simply

because they eventually end up harming all parts of surrounding areas, this should lead to the spread of

fear throughout the community and encourage the action of change. However, the world consists of

plenty of others who choose to invest in the opposite of change.

There are many who believe that the issue of air pollution in India is not major enough to take

into consideration, despite the significant amount of facts proving the direct health issues, environmental

hazards and changes, financial instability, and more. However, those whose possess these nonsensical

beliefs are typically those looking to make money, such as companies and businesses along with the

Indian government. Large companies and businesses that run the automobile industries are overlooking

the rising issue because taking any action against it would ultimately lead to a loss in profit. In an article,

Durga Prasad gives knowledgeable information about the way that businesses actually act and feel

towards the issue of air pollution throughout India. Despite the well-being attitudes that businesses

display to the public, the real feelings are put forth when the loss of profit becomes a feasible threat.

These attitudes are simply masks being used to disguise the harshness and cruelty of major, important

companies (Prasad). During times of financial stress, companies have been known to put the issue of air

pollution on the back burner. Businesses are always looking to make a positive and lasting impression

for their consumers. Therefore, this leads to faulty proposals and promises that businesses intend to

meet. Prasad also introduces challenges that the automobile industry in India is going to have to
 McKee 5

overcome in order to continue gaining business and consumer support. The changing wants and needs of

the Indian public create crucial demands that must be met by the leading automobile businesses. This

requires companies to create vehicles with higher productivity, efficiency, and innovation (Prasad).

Consumers will push for things that businesses must adopt such as lowered prices or specific

manufacturing needs and wants. The people want clean air, and buying cars that pollute the air even

further will not appeal to their satisfaction, causing companies to have to construct major alterations in

their plans. The rather ironic side of the matter is that the severe air pollution is now branching even

beyond the environment and the people, now affecting great wonders and monuments. And while the

lack of awareness for this pollution is supposed to make the Indian government more money, it is in fact

directly taking money away by destroying and eroding once attractive and profitable tourist locations.

Despite the feelings of these ignorant and egoistic businesses and government, the problem of air

pollution is in fact one that cannot be overlooked. Evidence shows that the severe pollution in India is

now also targeting important structures. Lindsay Lowe starts an article with an identification of a

problem in India and what it is causing to happen to the great Taj Mahal, resulting directly in loss of

revenue, reputation, and overall attractiveness of the scenery. The Taj Mahal, located in the city of Agra,

is beginning to lose its flashy white color fading to a browner and more unappealing hue. This is due to

the air pollution all across the country; however we have not previously possessed the knowledge of what

contaminants exactly are causing the erosion (Lowe). The main sources of this exterior alteration, as

identified by scientists, is a combination of automobile and diesel pollutants, dust from farms, many types

of factories, and the unique burning of cow dung. Evidence such as this should ultimately be the last

straw for anyone looking to have a healthy life full of beautiful scenes and sites, hopefully leading to

introductions of new laws and reformation of current laws relating to the air pollution.

As this major issue becomes known worldwide, there have been recent methods created in order

to dilute the pollutants that surround the cities and artifacts like the Taj Mahal. Lindsay Lowe describes

valuable efforts created in order to rebuild the health of these cities. One of these methods is simply the

banning of cars near important monuments. However, harsher steps have been taken to further benefit
 McKee 6

them; In January, the burning of cow dung was banned from the city. The act of burning garbage will

now result in a heavy fine as well. Air pollution is constantly being investigated as the Indian government

searches for more useful methods to prevent it (Lowe). By enacting small but powerful laws and

regulations such as these, the impacts sourcing from chemical exposure and automobile use can be

intensely limited. In an article on recent laws of India, Tommy Wilkes and Sankulp Phartiyal tell us the

new laws being enacted in order to prevent further diesel pollution; Indias top environmental court on

Monday ordered authorities to remove all diesel vehicles at least 10 years old off the capital citys streets

in a bid to help clean New Delhis polluted air. Reformation tactics and beneficial policies are being put

into action in order to clean up the air throughout the country and cities of India, hopefully leading to a

safer and more tolerable environment for citizens and tourists to behold.

Gathering from the tremendously harmful effects that air pollution is having on India, it is

necessary to continue to enact further laws and regulations that cut down the amount of pollutants and

chemicals being released into the atmosphere. If pollution continues to occur as rapidly as it is now, the

fate of India will have already been determined, at unfortunately it is not something to look forward to. In

an article written by Ciele Edwards, the results of continued pollution and Indias ultimate demise is

explained. If pollution in India continues at the excruciatingly quick rate it currently is, the overall human

population and environment could be absolutely devastated in the near future (Edwards). The repeated

exposure to the sharp toxins can eventually lead to decrease in the population of organisms all over the

world, including species that inhabit land as well as aquatic species. According to the Environmental

Protection Agency, and estimated one to 11 percent of all marine species will fall into extinction every

decade between 1975 and 2015. Plenty of other results of continued air pollution are guaranteed to

increase such as a variety of human illnesses, global warming, and economic depressions linking directly

back to human illnesses and the expenses that must be paid towards them. In order to benefit coming

generations and the works we have made, policies like these are crucial. The time for the rebuilding and

the improving of cities and wonders from air pollution is now.

 McKee 7

Works Cited

Anand, Geeta. "India's Air Pollution Rivals China's as World's Deadliest, shows Study." The Hindu, 15

Feb, 2017, pp. n/a, SIRS Issues Researcher, https://sks.sirs.com

"Choking on the Truth." India Today, 16 Mar. 2015, p. 1. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=f6h&AN=101455335&site=eds-live&scope=site

"Environmental concern amidst industrialisation." Down To Earth, 14 Mar. 2017. Environmental Studies

and Policy, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&sw=w&u=rale84535&v=2.1&id=GALE

%7CA485515982&it=r&asid=c17c3854e41fb8ea6aac106a148db641

Leuthold, David. Environment and Culture in India. 01 Jan. 1989. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=ED318665&site=eds-

live&scope=site.

Lowe, Lindsay. "Clearing the Air." Scholastic News -- Edition 5/6, vol. 83, no. 15, 23 Feb. 2015, p. 6.

EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=prh&AN=101057571&site=eds-

live&scope=site

Pearson, Natalie Obiko and Rakteem Katakey. "India's Diesel Cars Are Proving Lethal." Bloomberg

Businessweek, no. 4370, 10 Mar. 2014, p. 18. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=mat&AN=94830947&site=eds-live&scope=site

Prasad, Durga. "Indian Automotive Industry: Possibilities and Challenges." Indian Automotive Industry:

Possibilities and Challenges. Business Landscape, 10 Aug. 2013. Web. 05 May 2017

Ross, Eleanor. "Something in the Air." Newsweek Global, vol. 168, no. 11, 24 Mar. 2017, p. 34.

EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=121997596&site=eds-

live&scope=site

Sharma, Dinesh C. "Concern over Mercury Pollution in India." Lancet, vol. 362, no. 9389, 27 Sept. 2003,

p. 1050. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=bth&AN=10928069&site=eds-live&scope=site
 McKee 8

Wilkes, Tommy, and Sankalp Phartiyal. "Indian Court Orders Older Diesel Vehicles off New Delhi's

Roads." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 18 July 2016. Web. 05 May 2017.