Indian perspective of PM2.5 attributed human health hazards during 2010–2025

Abstract

During the last decade, the air quality in India has been a serious public health concern. Unfortunately, the most fertile Indo–Gangetic Plain (IGP) of India has been reported as one of the world’s most highly air polluted regions and it shelters more than a billion people. Alarmingly the average particulate matter with a diameter of ≤ 2.5 µm (PM_2.5) population exposure ranges between 75–100 µg/m³ which is much above the annual mean PM_2.5 concentrations set by National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS)-40 µg/m³, India and the Air Quality Guideline (AQG)-5 µg/m³ recommended by World Health Organization (WHO). Source apportionment and characterization of PM_2.5, though performed extensively, has remained largely unexplored in rural India. Health effects of ambient and household PM_2.5 pollution ranges from excess diseases to premature mortality mainly from Cardio Vascular Diseases (CVD), stroke, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD), and lung cancer. Besides, exposure to high level of PM_2.5 is associated with increased risk of reproductive failures, respiratory diseases, CVDs, type–2 diabetes, osteoporosis, kidney dysfunction, neurological disorders and cancer. Children, women and elderly people are at maximal risk of incurring PM_2.5–associated morbidity and mortality. Despite these health concerns, India has witnessed limited research on the impact of PM_2.5 on molecular epidemiology associated with the human health effects. In this review we have attempted to give a comprehensive view of the health effects inflicted by PM_2.5 in India, the challenges confronted by the subcontinent and the remedial measures which may be adapted to reduce the disease burden.