Air

Much before air pollution emerged as a critical health and environment issue in India, we developed state-of-the-art capacities for studying air quality. Our research focusses on a range of issues, including ambient air quality and apportionment of contributing sources , indoor air quality assessment for urban and rural households, regional scale assessment, impacts on health and agriculture, and capacity building of stakeholders for better management. Our research and analyses have been taken into account by policy makers for improvements in various standards and policies.

air

NEW IN AIR

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    Report

    Cost effectiveness of interventions for control of air pollution in Delhi

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    Project

    Support to Government of Uttar Pradesh for establishment of Strategic and Policy Advisory Unit for Uttar Pradesh Clean Air Management Programme (UP CAMP)

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    Explainer

    How evidence-based actions can help achieve breathable air in Indian cities

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    Video

    Matters of Particulate Matter: An Air Pollution Education Initiative by TERI

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    Event

    स्वस्थ शरीर के लिए निशुल्क स्वास्थ्य शिविर

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Projects

Articles

Air pollution causing heart diseases

Dr Kanhaiya Lal

Air pollution is one of the five leading causes of death worldwide. An eminent cardiologist associated with the Harvard Medical School presents terrifying statistics on worldwide deaths linked to air pollution. Air pollution-linked illness was found to be seven crores globally, and 70 lakh people lost their lives, according to the WHO. Out of these deaths, about 24 lakh deaths were associated with Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD), and 13 lakh deaths were due to heart strokes, that is, a total of 37 lakh deaths from heart-ailments.

Air Pollution in India: Major Issues and Challenges

This article foregrounds the challenges India is currently facing in reducing air pollution and bringing the level of air quality to a certain standard. It also discusses solutions that could be adopted to combat the national crisis.

Air Quality and Public Health Challenges: The battle can be won

Ms Meena Sehgal

It is time to take action on air pollution using both technology and awareness as major methods and it needs strong incentive mechanisms to ensure participation both by farmers and clean-energy producers

Vulnerability Index Tool: Vulnerability assessment for health

Ms Meena Sehgal
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Ms Vidhu Gupta

A prototype digital tool is being developed for state health departments in India to upload data, and the vulnerability index can be generated using the tool.

Air Pollution Health Effects online tool

Ms Meena Sehgal
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Ms Vidhu Gupta

This tool was created in collaboration with researchers from North Carolina State University (NCSU), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Statconsulta and sponsored by DST.

Events

स्वस्थ शरीर के लिए निशुल्क स्वास्थ्य शिविर

August 27, 2023
to August 27, 2023

August 27, 2023 at Shahid Park, Naubasta, Kanpur

In response to the growing concerns surrounding air pollution in Kanpur and its adverse effect on public health, TERI has organised comprehensive health camp under the CAP India Project supported by SDC.

WasteMAP Workshop on 'Key Strategies for Organic Waste Management'

August 23, 2023
to August 24, 2023

TERI Gram Retreat Centre in Gwal Pahari on August 23rd-24th, 2023

Stop Air Pollution before it causes health degradation: Swasth Sharir ke liye Swastya Shivir

August 20, 2023
to August 22, 2023

 

Taking a Breath of Fresh Knowledge: TERI's Health Camp in Lucknow

News

How to curb air pollution? Data for Fbd collected, report by November

July 17, 2023 |
July 17, 2023
The Times of India

The source appropriation study, a first for Haryana is being carried out by The Energy and Resources Institute. Mr Ved Prakash Sharma, Senior Manager -Labs, one of the TERI’s lead researchers in the study said the data collection for the study is completed. They will carry out validation and interpretation of the information, upon which a detailed road map will be drawn considering all possible measures for air quality improvement. These measures will be classified into short and long term, with priority to low-cost measures with maximum benefits.

Clearing The Air: Combating pollution for a healthier global urban future

June 29, 2023
| Mr Shivang Agarwal
| Mr R Suresh
| WION News

The path to significant air pollution reduction is filled with challenges, requiring comprehensive policy reforms, stringent regulations, and active public-private sector collaborations. However, effective strategies aimed at mitigating air pollution offer a ray of hope in this scenario. Steps such as strengthening vehicle emission standards, promoting renewable energy, and improving public transportation infrastructure are crucial. However, the responsibility lies not only with the authorities.

Gasping for breath: What is India doing about its air pollution crisis?

May 30, 2023 |
June 14, 2023
WION

India has implemented a variety of regulations aimed at various sources of air pollution, ranging from industry to road traffic. Despite this, its air quality has steadily deteriorated, to the degree of today's public health catastrophe.  The difficulty in achieving a lasting impact from these initiatives is multi-faceted said Mr Suresh Ramasubramanya Iyer, Senior Fellow and Area Convenor, Centre for Environmental Studies, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

Harder to breathe: Mumbai wheezes its way to becoming pollution capital

March 21, 2023 |
March 21, 2023
Business Standard

The Swiss air tracking index, IQAir, ranked Mumbai and the Mumbai metropolitan region as India's most polluted urban centre. Mumbai's AQI ranged between 200 and 400 on Most days in January and February. Due to La Nina, the air transfer between sea and land, which used to happen every two to three days, slowed down to a seven to 10-day cycle this winter, says Dr Anju  Goel, Fellow, Earth Science and Climate Change Division, TERI.

Soon, Delhi's air pollution sources to be available in real time

January 29, 2023 |
January 29, 2023
The Hindu

A "super site" and mobile laboratory (a lab-on-wheels capturing air pollution readings and sources from various parts of the city) are set to be opened by the chief minister, Mr. Arvind Kejriwal. These were used for the "real-time source apportionment study," under which data on Delhi's air were collected. A model (software) was created giving sources of air pollution by using air from the surroundings as input. The source apportionment study is being done by IIT Kanpur, IIT Delhi, TERI, and IISER Mohali at the cost of around Rs 12 crores for the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.

Study on local polluters in 3 Haryana cities gets nod, will help make roadmap to improve air

January 14, 2023 |
January 14, 2023
The Times of India

A PM2.5 and PM10 source apportionment study, with a focus on identifying local polluters, will take place for the first time in Gurugram, Sonipat and Panipat. The Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has given its nod to the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) to conduct this study. TERI is conducting a similar study in Faridabad.

Policy

Could the National Capital Region serve as a control region for effective air quality management in Delhi?

November 4, 2020

Air pollution does not follow administrative boundaries, and needs to be tackled at the regional "airshed" level at which it is caused. Identifying the appropriate candidates for airshed management requires scientific analysis using systematically developed emissions inventories and dispersion models to simulate the impact of the estimated emissions on air quality.

Emissions control in thermal power stations: Issues, challenges, and the way forward

February 21, 2020

As per TERI's analysis, of the total environmental pollution in 2016, the power sector reportedly accounted for 51% of sulphur dioxide (SO2), 43% of carbon dioxide (CO2), 20% of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and 7% of PM2.5 emissions.

Crop residue management: Solution to achieve better air quality

January 30, 2020

Residents of different cities (probably villages too) of India breathe some of the least healthy air of the globe. During 2017, about 76.8% of the population of India were exposed to annual population-weighted mean PM2·5 greater than the limit recommended by the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQ: 40 mg/m3) (Balakrishnan, Dey, Gupta, et al. 2019). Over last five years, the annual population-weighted mean ambient PM2·5 concentrations were significantly higher over the Indo- Gangetic Plain (IGP) region in comparison to other parts of the country.

Fleet Modernization: A solution to achieve better air quality

December 10, 2019

India's transport demand has grown from a total of 5.3 million in 1981 to 230 million in 2016, with two-wheelers and cars having 73% and 14% share, respectively. Commercial vehicles though constitute only about 5% of the total fleet, contribute to nearly 80% of total PM emissions.

Phase-wise implementation of fleet modernization (transforming pre BS-IV commercial vehicles to BS-VI) would lead to a 40-80% reduction in PM and NOx emissions from the sector by 2025.

Opportunities with Biofuel: Co-benefit of Air Quality Improvement

December 5, 2019

While biofuels have been discussed as one of the ways to reduce air pollution, changing the process of bio-diesel production is needed to reduce tailpipe emissions of nanoparticles. These are lesser known pollutants even more harmful than PM2.5 and PM10.

Position paper on Improving Inspection and Maintenance System for In-use Vehicles in India

March 3, 2017

The transport sector is an important contributor to pollution in cities. The sector accounts for a significant contribution in PM2.5 concentrations in most Indian cities. In Bengaluru, the sector accounts for almost 50% of PM2.5 concentrations.

Area Convenor, Environment and Health Assessment
Area Convenor, Centre for Air Quality Research