Mumbai city's Air Quality Index readings, which chart the concentrations of deadly particles, have regularly breached unsafe and hazardous levels. It’s even overtaken those in New Delhi, the Indian capital that’s infamous for its grim, record-breaking toxic air.
Air pollution leads to 2 million premature deaths annually across South Asia, which is home to nine of the world’s 10 most-polluted metropolises, according to Mumbai Municipal Corporation statistics, acute bronchitis, asthma and pneumonia have recorded 13,444 total deaths in the last five years. Due to sulfur dioxide in polluted air, there is a possibility of increasing diseases like heart disease, respiratory disorders, stroke, cancer, eye inflammation, headache, nitrogen dioxide can cause pneumonia, bacterial infection, heart disease and brain damage due to carbon monoxide. Due to this pollution, the level of ozone is increasing and the increasing ozone can be harmful to the human body.
Giving more information about Mumbai Air Pollution Dr. Parthiv Shah, Pulmonologist from Apex group of Hospital, Borivali said, "Air pollution has increased tremendously in Mumbai, the capital of the state. Air pollution has been reported in many places including Mumbai city, suburbs, Navi Mumbai. On the other hand, we are experiencing strange weather such as cold in the morning and high temperature in the afternoon. Elderly, children as well as pregnant mothers are especially affected by air pollution. Moreover, comorbidities, heart disease, cancer patients, covid patients and COPD patients are at higher risk in this time. Apart from severe people, healthy people also suffer from itchy eyes, skin effects due to dry weather, etc. Complaints arise. Children, senior citizens, and asthma sufferers need to take care after pollution increases. It is important for sick persons to eat meals on time, take medicines, and have a good and protein rich diet."
It has been observed from the medical field that due to metro and new building works, smoke emitted from vehicles and air pollution caused by factories in industrial areas and carbon emitted due to burning of waste, air pollution has increased tremendously and respiratory disorders have also increased, and if proper treatment and care is not taken. It is predicted that death due to respiratory disorders will increase in the near future, added by Pollution Pulmonologist Dr. Parthiv Shah from Apex group of Hospital, Borivali.
According to a 2020 study by CSE ( Centre for Science and Environment) which assessed four major industrial clusters surrounding Mumbai — the Trans-Thane Creek, Taloja, Ambernath and Dombivali —the massive use of coal in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region is one of the key factors for the deteriorating air quality. According to another CSE analysis based on real-time data from the working monitoring stations, the number of bad-air days in Mumbai doubled between 2019 and 2021, while good days were down by 20 percent. Dust pollution triggered by a slew of infrastructure and housing projects, which have resumed in full vigour after the Covid lockdowns, is another contributor to Mumbai’s deteriorating air quality.
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