NEW DELHI: A study conducted by Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago over a period of two years has revealed indoor PM2.5 levels in Delhi to be extremely high during the winter.
Track the pollution level in your city
While the average PM2.5 levels for low-income households were 23 times the WHO-recommended safe limit of 10mg per cubic metre, it was 29 times in the case of high-income households.
The survey covered about 3,000 households in the city between 2018 and 2020. The findings were released on Wednesday.
The research also found that on an average, the indoor PM2.5 levels were substantially higher than the corresponding value reported by the nearest government monitor.
The study suggested that high-income households were 13 times more likely to own air purifiers than low-income households. However, the indoor air pollution levels in those homes were only 10% lower than those living in disadvantaged settings.
“In Delhi, the bottom line is — whether someone is rich or poor, no one gets to breathe clean air,” said Dr Kenneth Lee, the lead author of the study. “It’s a complex vicious cycle. When you do not know about the pollution levels inside your homes, you do not worry about it and are less likely to take corrective action. Only with increased awareness can the demand for clean air gain momentum.”
Dr Lee said it was critical to address the information gaps related to indoor air pollution urgently.
“High-frequency accurate PM2.5 information communicated through government monitors or indoor monitors is the first step, but only when it is complemented with an increase in literacy around health consequences of pollution and the benefits of adopting various defensive actions can we expect favourable outcomes,” he added.
The study said indoor PM2.5 levels tend to spike in the mornings and evenings, the usual time for cooking in households. It also found that in homes with access to real-time pollution data, an 8.6% decline in indoor PM2.5 concentrations was recorded.
The research said households were offered a free, month-long trial for an indoor air quality monitor during peak pollution period, but only 15% agreed. It indicated that demand for air pollution information and defensive technologies may be low among residents in the city.
