causes of air pollution which have become headache of governmental and non governmental agencies

1. Main culprits of Air
Pollution in
Delhi and India
Presented by :
Raghav dagar
Msc (evs) final year
MSCE-596-2K16

2. Contents
• Intro to air pollution
• Stubble burning Air Pollution
• Firecrackers Air Pollution
• Landfill Air pollution

3. Speak no evil See no evil Hear no evil
Eat no evil breathe no evil

4. Air Pollution
 An air pollutant is a substance in the air that can have adverse effects on
humans and the ecosystem. The substance can be solid particles, liquid
droplets, or gases. A pollutant can be of natural origin or man-made.
 When these pollutant introduced into Earth's atmosphere in excess amount,
they cause air pollution.
 Potentially, air pollutants can be found in air anywhere - outdoors and indoors.
Air pollutants can be divided into three groups:-
• Criteria pollutants
• Air toxics
• Biological pollutants
 ‘Criteria air pollutants' is a term used internationally to describe air pollutants
that have been regulated and are used as indicators of air quality. WHO Air
quality guidelines offer global guidance on thresholds and limits for 4 key air
pollutants that pose health risks -particulate matter (PM), ozone (O3), nitrogen
dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide(SO2).
 Air toxics are sometimes referred to as 'hazardous air pollutants'. They mainly
include benzene, toluene, formaldehyde and polyaromatic hydrocarbons.
 Biological pollutants arise from sources such as microbiological contamination,
e.g. moulds, the skin of animals and humans and the remains and dropping of
pests such as cockroaches. Biological pollutants can be airborne and can have a
significant impact on indoor air quality.

5. 43%
27%
11%
7%
12%
sources of emissions of air pollutants
industry
vehicles
agriculture
landfill emissions
others

6. Some facts about Air Pollution
• More than nine out of 10 of the world’s population – 92% – lives
in places where air pollution exceeds safe limits, according
to research from the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Air pollution is the fourth-largest threat to human health, behind
high blood pressure, dietary risks and smoking.
• There were an estimated 6.5 million deaths worldwide from air
pollution-related diseases in 2012, WHO data shows. That’s
11.6% of all global deaths – more than the number of people
killed by HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and road injuries combined.
• Of the world’s top 20 polluted cities, 13 are in India with Delhi at
the top compared to just three in China. Air pollution slashes life
expectancy by 3.2 years for the 66 million Indians who live in
cities, including Delhi

7. • Air pollution is responsible for 1 in 9 deaths worldwide
• Over 80% of cities exceed the WHO’s acceptable air quality
standards
• Since May 2015, Delhi has safe air only in July this year
having 2 good air days, 17 satisfactory, 12 moderate and
not even one bad day.
• After July air quality becomes worse every year due to last
of monsoons and burning of stubble in north India.
• Pollution level increase about 40% on an average the day
after Diwali due to the burning of firecrackers.
• Because of the ban on crackers this Diwali was safe with
AQI 326 as compared to 2015 and 2016 with AQI 327 and
426 respectively. But still it falls in the category of very
poor (301-400).

8. Stubble
Burning

9. STUBBLE BURNING
• The cut-stallk or straw of cereal plants left sticking of the ground after the
grain is harvested is called stubble.
• This straw is enriched in inorganic nutrients like potassium, nitrogen,
phosphorus, sulphur, iron, etc.
• Every tons of straw contain 18.9 Kg of K, 10.1 Kg of S, 06.2 Kg of N, 01.1 Kg P
and small amounts of iron, zinc, manganese etc.
• Burning one ton of rice straw accounts for a loss of 5.5 kg of nitrogen, 2.3 kg
of phosphorous, 25 kg of potassium and 1.2 kg of sulphur in the soil.
• According to a 2014 study by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute
(IARI), the country generated 620 million tons of crop residue, of which 60
per cent was paddy straw. Haryana and Punjab alone produce 35 million
tons of paddy straw and about 20 million tons of wheat straw. About 85-90
per cent of this paddy straw is burnt in the field.
• On December 10, 2015, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned crop
residue burning in states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab.
But farmers protest against it due to lack of alternatives.

10. Why farmers burn the stubble
• For 1.3 billion country, we need to produce more grains to
meet our demands. Before green revolution only 2 crops
were produced and land was left for 2 months but now three
crops are taken annually which require to prepare the fields
faster for next crops.
• Combine harvesters do not harvest/cut from bottom, it only
shred upper part leaving more crop residue.
• Non availability of labour and high labour cost in cutting,
storing and transportation of stubble.
• After green revolution farmers were told to burn these crop
residue so that diseases of last crop not transmitted to crop
to be shown next year and left ash as good source of
phosphorus.`
• Decrease in livestock population.

11. Contd…
• The small window of around 15 days between the harvesting
of rice and the sowing of wheat along with the non-
availability of labour pushes farmers towards the easy option
that of burning the straw. Farmers also report a direct benefit
of less pests and weeds in the subsequent crop.
• Cost of clearing the field manually is about Rs. 3000, then
why should he do this if he can clear the field just by Rs. 1
matchbox.
• Incorporation of rice straw in field cost around 11% more
than burning. Hence farmers see immediate benefit rather
than longer term gains.
• Payment of sold straw is not received on time.
• Lack and improper implementation of governmental policies
for the management of stubble in a sustainable manner.

12. Solutions for Stubble
• Generate power from agricultural biomass :- 7 biomass based power
plants in Punjab and 2 in Haryana have been set up having an installed
capacity of 155MW and 45MW respectively.
• Raw material :- Cardboard and paper industry buy the straw form the
farmers as raw material for manufacturing paper, cardboard, etc.
• Animal food :- straw can be used as direct food for livestock and can also be
used for making their bed in winters. Nomadic communities buy straw of
basmati from farmers and pay around 3000-5000 per acre.
• Composting :- compost can be easily made from stubble on the field side.
• No till farming :- zero tilling machine and happy seeder are such machines
which do not require tilling before sowing of wheat.
• Switch to basmati rice :- basmati rice are better in price, fodder and taste
than non basmati rice.
• Use of machines which make bundles of crops after the harvesting of rice.

13. Happy seeder
Developed by Australian Professor John Blackwell, an
agricultural engineer.

14. Happy seeder
• Happy seeder cut and lift straw, sow wheat into bare soil and deposit
straw over sown area as mulching.
• Data collected from field sites indicates improvement in yield (3–10%),
soil health, a decline in weed populations, a reduction in herbicide use
by up to 50%, and irrigation water savings of up to 10–12 cms/ha.
Features:-
 Possibility of sowing wheat crop just after rice harvesting i.e. option for
long duration wheat and rice varieties.
 Possibility of sowing wheat in the residual moisture i.e. saving of one
irrigation.
 Timely sowing wheat even after long duration basmati rice varieties.
 Crop residue as much helps in moisture and temperature conservation.
 Improved soil health.
 Environment friendly technology to check air pollution.

15. Firecrackers air
pollution

16. Firecrackers pollution
• Besides the festival of light and sweets, Diwali also comes up with pollution
and it is the result of firecrackers only.
• Firecracker is a small explosive device primarily designed to produce a large
amount of noise, especially in the form of a loud bang; any visual effect is
incidental to this goal. They have fuses, and are wrapped in a heavy paper
casing to contain the explosive compound.
• Firecrackers are generally made up of three components: Oxidizers, fuel and
coloring agents.
• The oxidizer is usually a perchlorate salt. It serves the function of releasing
the oxygen required for the explosion. When the firework is set off, most of
the perchlorate present becomes harmless compound. However, the
remnants enter the soil and water, and when ingested by humans, it gets
absorbed in the thyroid gland and interferes with the thyroid hormone. This
eventually leads to problems in metabolism and mental development.
• The fuel in the firecracker is generally charcoal which sustains the
fire. Burning this results in the release of a large amount of air pollutants,
particularly sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide (CO) and
particulate matter into the atmosphere.

17. • Then, there are the coloring agents. According to the CPCB report, these
are the metallic compounds which give firecrackers their
colors. Aluminum compounds produce brilliant whites and causes
contract dermatitis and bio-accumulation. Barium nitrate produces
greens and can cause an irritated respiratory tract. The addition of
copper results in blue light and cause cancer.
• As per a study done by Chest Research Foundation (CRF) - Pune, the
burning of fire-crackers increases the level of sulphur dioxide 200-times
above the safety limits prescribed by World Health Organization (WHO).
• Firecrackers with loud sound can cause hearing impairment. Due to the
loud boom, a person can suffer from tinnitus (a disease in which one
hears sound when actual there is none). It can also cause severe pain,
bleeding and hole in ear drum and even make one deaf.

18. Particulate Matter released by
different Firecrackers
 Name of cracker
•Snake
•Laad
•Fuljadi
•Chakri
•Anar
A laad approx emits smoke
equivalent to 450 cigarettes.
 level of PM2.5(µg/m³ )
64500
38540
10390
9490
4860

19. Effect of Emissions on Human
 The various chemicals in fireworks and their effects -:
•Sulfur dioxide: Causes wheezing and shortness of breath.
•Cadmium : Can cause anemia and damage to kidney
and also affect the nervous system.
•Copper : Irritates respiratory tract and causes cancer.
•Lead : Affects the nervous system.
•Magnesium : Can cause metal fume fever.
•Nitrate : Can cause mental impairment.
•Nitrite : Can cause skin problems, eye irritation, and
respiratory problems in children.

20. • Diwali is festival of light, reunion of families,
distributing sweets and happiness and
exchanging gifts but not to fire the crackers.
• Crackers are not good form any angle but only
the wastage of money, polluting the air, and
makes unwanted and hazardous noise.
• So we should say no to crackers and yes to life
and happiness.
• We should burn the evil, ego and grudge not the
crackers and lighten the ghee lamps.

21. Landfill Air
Pollution

22. Landfill Air Pollution
• A landfill site is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and the
oldest form of waste treatment.
• An IIT Kanpur report on Air quality showed 7% to 9% of the particulate
matter pollution is because of burning municipal solid waste in landfills in
India.
• Burning waste also leads to release of toxic gases in the air, which weakens
the immune system, irritates lungs and cause deadly diseases like
tuberculosis, typhoid, asthma, bronchitis, dengue, malaria and
encephalitis.
• One ton of degradable rubbish produces about 400-500 cubic metres of
landfill gas.
• There are four main landfills in Delhi i.e. Ghazipur, Bhalswa, Narela and
Okhla commisioned in 1984, 1994, 1996 respectively.
• The permissible limit for height of landfill is 20m but three of them have
crossed the limit and are garbage monsters for nearby localities.
• Three out of the four sanitary landfill sites – Bhalswa, Ghazipur and Okhla
- have exceeded their life span.

23. • Ghazipur landfill has to be closed in 2002 but it was still in operation untill a mountain
of landfill collapse down and 2 people were died due to it on 1 sept 2017.
• The next day LG Anil Baijal ordered for the immediate closure of this landfill.
• Further it caught fire on 14 oct and controlled after 9 hrs. according to a report this fire
caused more pollution than combining last three Diwalis.
• Only Ghazipur landfill has a plant to capture methane and convert it into energy,
though it was established after dumping began. It is of a much smaller capacity and
can’t contain the all the emissions, resulting in fires.

24. Landfill gas is a complex mixture of different gases created anaerobically by the action
of microorganisms within a landfill. Landfill gas is approximately forty to sixty percent methane,
with the remainder being mostly carbon dioxide and trace amounts of other gases
including H2S, SO2 , Nox and VOCs.
Some amount of methane is converted into carbon dioxide in presence oxygen.
CH4 + 2O2 CO2 + 2H2O
Rotting food and other decaying organic waste allows methane and carbon dioxide to seep
out of the ground and up into the air. Emissions from landfill accounts for 7-11% of total air
pollution.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas having potential 20 times more than the carbon dioxide,
and can itself be a danger because it is flammable and potentially explosive. In properly
managed landfills, gas is collected and utilized.
Landfill gases are the result of three processes :_
•Evaporation of volatile organic compounds.
•Chemical reactions between waste components and fires.
•Microbial action, especially methanogenesis.
 The first two depend strongly on the nature of the waste. The dominant process in most
landfills is the third process whereby anaerobic bacteria decompose organic waste to
produce biogas, which consists of methane and carbon dioxide together with traces of
other compounds.

25. Landfill fire occurs when
waste disposed of in a landfill
ignites and spreads. In landfills
that do not cover their waste
with daily cover, air intrusion
provides the oxygen required for
increased biological activity
decomposition that creates substantial heat and can
cause material in the landfills to spontaneously
combust.

26. • Two types of landfills fires are generally recognized. Surface Fires and
Deep Seated Fires.
• Surface fires typically occur in underdeveloped countries that lack
capacity to properly cover waste with inert daily and intermediate
cover. This recently happened in Ghazipur landfill site.
• If these fires remained unchecked, spontaneous combustion fires in
particular tend to burn deeper into the waste mass, resulting in deep
seated fires.
• Landfill fires are most prevalent in the spring and summer months,
when there is a greater chance of spontaneous combustion. Landfill
fires include not only refuse, but vehicles, structures, and surrounding
brush and grass. Fires at discarded tire sites produce large amounts of
oil and smoke and are difficult to contain and extinguish.
• Thousands of people live on and around the Dhapa landfill in India,
where 4,000 tons of waste are dumped each day. It is oldest and largest
landfill of India . It is so prone to fires that the fires can be seen from
the space. People living around it have an average life span of about 50
years.

27. Solutions !
 About 0.1 million tonnes of municipal solid waste is generated in India
every day. That is approximately 36.5 million tonnes annually. Calorific
value of Indian solid waste is between 600 and 800 Kcal/Kg and the
density of waste is between 330 and 560 Kg/m3. Out of the total
municipal waste collected, on an average 94% is dumped on land and
5% is composted.
 The country got its first MSW rules in 2000. They stated that mixed
waste should not be dumped in landfills, it should be segregated first.
These rules were revised in 2016, but still no such serious affect is seen.
 Following can be the best solutions :-
5R’s concept : The 5R concept i.e. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot and
Repair.
Segregation : Waste should be segregated at individuals home so
that the quantity of waste should be reduce and it is
very easy to dispose the segregated waste.

28. • Waste to energy plants :- Waste to energy plants
like as in Narela bawana should be opened and
their capacity should be increased as much as
possible.
• Methane capturing : Methane released as a
result of anaerobic digestion from landfills
should be captured properly and can be used as
a fuel source.

29. Garbage
LandfillGenerator
Electricity