Three metro cities of India have made it to the list of the 20 most polluted cities in the globe. It is definitely bad news for us. These three cities are Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. The list has been made public by the State of Global Air which did a report on air quality and health in different cities of the world. To rub salt on the wound, Delhi and Kolkata have made it to the 1st and 2nd position respectively whereas Mumbai ranks 14th on the list”, said Avizo CEO Ashok Chahar. [FURL=https://avizo.in/]Avizo[/FURL] is an Indian company that manufactures different types of air purifiers, such as smart air purifiers for homes and cars. Under each category, potential buyers can get to see several models of different sizes and capacities. In the present scenario of global and growing air pollution, buying an air purifier has almost become a necessity and not a luxury. This is especially true for people living in urban areas. Coming back to increasing pollution in India’s metro cities, Mr Chahar sounded deeply worried.
“It is not the first time that the global list of the most polluted cities includes 2-3 metro cities in our country. For several years, Delhi has achieved a high rank and now Kolkata and Mumbai have also joined the league. It is deeply disturbing. This news has already become a matter of major concern for environmentalists. Buying an air purifier is a way to take in fresh air but it is not a solution for a large number of people on the streets. The world leaders should put their heads together for a convenient, comprehensive and cost-effective solution”.
As per the report, the ranking is based on two major air pollutants – nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). This PM2.5 refers to the atmospheric particulate matter having diameter<2.5 micrometres. This size is roughly 3 per cent the diameter of a human hair. PM2.5 has been found to play a role in reducing visibility and causing respiratory problems. To date, several studies have been performed to find out the primary causes of air pollution and road traffic is one of the major contributors to the problem.
“As per several studies, road traffic contributes to NO2. It is poisonous for human beings and long exposure to the gas may even cause death. Many researchers have already highlighted that pollution is one of the reasons causing lung cancer in non-smokers and other diseases such as cardiovascular problems, diabetes etc. New studies are exploring the pollution effect on people’s mental health and it’s definitely not good. Hence, pollution is a double-edged sword that harms people both at home and outdoors”, he paused, probably to look for visible endorsement of his words.
According to Mr Chahar, though an air purifier addresses this issue to some extent, large-scale and long-time planning should be in place to ensure a significant reduction in air pollution.
About Avizo: Avizo, owned and managed by Mr Ashok Chahar, is an Indian company. It manufactures air purifiers, many of which are within the affordable range of middle-class buyers.