Air Quality in Mumbai: Artificial Lungs Installed Turn Black in two weeks

Earlier this month, HEPA-filter artificial lungs were installed outside R.D. National College. In just two weeks, the colour of the lungs was changed from white to black. While health experts claim this to be a warning bell, air pollution campaigners, on the other hand, have urged the State Government to initiate steps in the right direction to ensure clean air for Mumbaikars. 

While a similar lung which was installed in Delhi (November 2018) just took 6 days to go black, another one was put up in Bengaluru (January 2018) took 25 days. The campaign was titled as- ‘The Billboard that breathes’ is a first-of-its-kind initiative in Maharashtra wherein an interactive art installation has been used to demonstrate the lethal impact of polluted air on human health.

These faux lungs were installed on January 14, 2020 and it began rapidly changing its colour since the second day itself. The initiative of setting up this lungs was taken by Jhatkaa.org, a digital advocacy organisation, in collaboration with Waatavaran Foundation which is an environmental organisation.

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“In a span of two weeks the lungs have become black. High levels of  particulate matter in the air, caused in large part due to vehicular emissions and dust was all trapped in the HEPA filters. This has proven to be one of the simplest yet visually effective ways of showcasing what the deteriorating air quality in the city is doing to our lungs,” said Shikha Kumar, Campaign Manager at Jhatkaa.org. 

Kumar added that as per studies carried out by air pollution research group, Urbanemissions.info, vehicular emissions and industries itself contributes 31 per cent to the total PM 2.5 concentration in Mumbai.

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Here are the pictures of the lungs: 

Day 1

Day 5 

Day 12 

Day 14

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