Study Reveals 20% Increase in PM Pollution in Indo-Gangetic Plain and Himalayan Regions
PM pollution increased by 20% in Indo-Gangetic Plain, Himalayan region, North-East: Study
Image: The Economic Times
A recent study indicates that particulate matter pollution in the Indo-Gangetic Plain, Himalayan region, and North-East India rose by over 20% from 2010 to 2019 compared to the previous decade. The increase is primarily due to biomass burning and agricultural practices.
- 01Particulate matter pollution increased by more than 20% in the Indo-Gangetic Plain, Himalayan region, and North-East India from 2010-2019 compared to 2000-2009.
- 02The study attributes the rise in pollution levels to intensified slash-and-burn agriculture and increased biomass usage for energy in rural areas.
- 03Carbonaceous aerosols from burning organic materials showed significant growth trends in the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plain from 2000 to 2024.
- 04Pollution from regions like Punjab and Bihar is impacting the air quality in the Himalayas, indicating a wider ecological impact.
- 05The study highlights the lack of structured clean air interventions in ecologically sensitive areas like the Himalayas.
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A recent study published in the journal Atmospheric Environment reveals that particulate matter (PM) pollution in the Indo-Gangetic Plain, Himalayan region, and North-East India has surged by over 20% from 2010 to 2019 compared to the previous decade. The research indicates that this increase is largely driven by biomass burning, particularly in the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plain, where carbonaceous aerosols have shown a strong upward trend from 2000 to 2024. The study's co-author, Abhijit Chatterjee, emphasized that the pollution burden is disproportionately affecting these regions, primarily due to intensified slash-and-burn agricultural practices and the extensive use of biomass for energy in rural households. Additionally, the analysis highlights that emissions from Punjab and Bihar are reaching the Himalayas, impacting these ecologically sensitive areas. Soumen Raul, another researcher involved in the study, noted that pollutants emitted in the plains do not remain localized but travel into the mountains, which are currently lacking effective clean air interventions.
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The rise in pollution levels poses significant health risks to residents in the affected regions and contributes to climate change.
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