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Zack McKee
Mr. Phillips
English III
8 May 2017
Imagine stepping outside of the front door in the morning and not even being able to take a deep
breath. Imagine one gust of wind causing harsh coughing and itchy eyes. Sadly, conditions like these are
what are now common in many Indian cities due to heavy air pollution. The problem of air pollution in
India is one that is becoming increasingly worse, and one that is affecting not only the people of India but
the environment, monuments, and financial stability as well. Along with air pollution, the mass
industrialization and automobile use in India is more or less crushing the country as it weakens its
economy, environment, public health, and reputation. Countless examples of cases of respiratory disease
in humans and erosion of great monuments and important buildings source from the surrounding polluted
The issue of air pollution in India is one that simply cannot be overlooked. Geeta Anand explains
the severity of Indias air pollution problem and how it has skyrocketed into first place in the world.
Indias death rate from air pollution (1.1 million people per year) now surpasses that of Chinas, and from
1990 to 2015 the increase of early and young deaths from this pollution has increased by 50%. Any issue
that causes a spike in death rates as radical as this is an absolute catastrophe, and needs to be solved or the
effects lessened as quickly as possible. According to Eleanor Ross, pollution in Delhi ranges from stirred
dust by the public to overuse of home luxuries such as stoves. However automobile use spikes to the top
due to diesel engines, topping at 1/3 of the entire citys sources. Not to mention the effect that the
increasing amount of landfills are having on the citys health, which simply burn items that could have
been recycled, exposing the surrounding atmosphere to harsh, unfriendly contaminants. Shocking, almost
guilty evidence like this that proves that humans are indirectly causing the death of other fellow humans
Citizens of India, in New Delhi particularly, are taking notice of the reality and severity of the
effects that air pollution is having on everyday life. Eleanor Ross explains a few sources of the recent
heavy pollution towards New Delhi and provides an inside opinion using an actual citizen of the city:
Things had deteriorated quickly after October, when thousands of farmers in the nearby state of
Punjab burned straw left over from their rice harvests, blowing smoke toward Delhi. At the end
of the month, during the Hindu festival of Diwali, residents set off celebratory firecrackers
against the advice of the government, making the pollution even worse. The day after Diwali,
photojournalist and Delhi resident Zacharie Rabehi said the smog was so dense that "I couldn't
see my hand at the end of my arm. The negative firsthand observations and descriptions of the
pollution show the harsh reality of living a life surrounded by contaminated air. Another example of a
firsthand account from an Indian magazine describes just how much the issue is wrecking the
environment and scenery of many cities. Using metaphors and imagery to convey their point about the
destruction being caused from pollution in India, an article from India Today provides the following:
Plants wilting by the highways, the laboured rise and fall of an infant chest, the soupy smog that sits on
many of our cities every winter, or the charred smell after Diwali we sense air pollution in many ways.
This unnerving statement reaches into the hearts of the people and frightens them by suggesting that this
rising problem is in fact diminishing the lives of many, including innocent infant babies.
Although air pollution in India is linked to a wide variety of causes, the outstanding and main
cause, by far, is diesel engines. In an article, Natalie Pearson explains the effects that automobile use,
especially diesel, are having both environmentally and financially in India. The main source of pollution
in India comes from the diesel exhaust systems that crowd the city, even surpassing the amount of
pollution in cities like Beijing and Shanghai. The diesel fuels used in India excrete 10 times the
carcinogenic particles found in gasoline exhaust, and these lead directly to many respiratory diseases,
heart attacks, and lung cancer. Conditions like these are becoming increasingly more common in
everyone living in these areas, however specifically in young and developing children. Is this fair to the
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children of India who have nothing to do with the outstandingly high amount of automobile pollution?
Pearson also explains how the lack of advancement of diesel fuel in India is so worrisome for the health
of the cities by comparing Indias innovation to Europes. Indias diesel-powered cars comply with
emission standards that are at least nine years behind Europes. These cars will remain on the roads for
years even if tougher rules are introduced says Anup Bandivadekar, India program director for the ICCT.
The longer these lesser diesel vehicles are on the road, the more waste and emissions are pumped out into
the atmosphere. And it will continue to increase exponentially as the vehicles become even older. Diesel
pollution in India is the leading source of harm, however there are others that when combined with diesel
Another leading source of air pollution in India is from the growing and spreading of
manufacturing and industrialization, which bring issues that affect the entirety of the country of India
ranging from the environment to public health. The expansion of farmlands and houses requires an
abundance of wood, leading to deforestation. Factories and fires that occur across the country cause
severe air pollution, leading to massive amounts of respiratory diseases that exist. And soil erosion,
another existing issue is caused from droughts, floods, and manufacturing of structures (Leuthold).
Environmental problems such as these that originate from manufacturing and industrializing in India are
both indirect and direct. The soil erosion is not directly caused by manufacturing; in fact it is mainly
caused by weather like floods. However, industrialization is still a major factor. While there may be
positives to industrialization, an article from Down to Earth explains that the negatives completely
outweigh them. Industrialization has led to environmental degradation in terms of industrial pollution.
With industries operating, a 100 per cent pollution-free environment is a myth. While many may argue
the fact that pollution cannot be completely stopped and that there will always be some amount of it, the
fact of the matter is that most of it can be stopped, and the harsh, irreversible changes that have been
Though the leading sources of pollution come from automobiles and industry, there are many
other smaller sources that have nearly as much impact and harm on the Indian environment and economy.
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An example of a smaller and often overlooked issue of air pollution in India is the issue of the misuse of
mercury waste. According the Dinesh Sharma, the effect that the misuse of mercury waste is having on
the people, animals, and sceneries of Indian cities is excruciating. Mercury and its compounds bio
accumulate in the food chain including in fish and can cause severe neurological, physical, and
kidney-based disorders. According to the report, high mercury concentrations have been found in
groundwater, rivers, and in fish, as well as the blood of human beings. As the mercury waste is
wrongfully dumped into surrounding rivers and other water sources, it quickly spreads into every other
aspect of the environment. The cycle begins with organisms inhabiting the waters and branches to other
organisms that consume the water or species living there. Chain reactions like this are deadly simply
because they eventually end up harming all parts of surrounding areas, this should lead to the spread of
fear throughout the community and encourage the action of change. However, the world consists of
There are many who believe that the issue of air pollution in India is not major enough to take
into consideration, despite the significant amount of facts proving the direct health issues, environmental
hazards and changes, financial instability, and more. However, those whose possess these nonsensical
beliefs are typically those looking to make money, such as companies and businesses along with the
Indian government. Large companies and businesses that run the automobile industries are overlooking
the rising issue because taking any action against it would ultimately lead to a loss in profit. In an article,
Durga Prasad gives knowledgeable information about the way that businesses actually act and feel
towards the issue of air pollution throughout India. Despite the well-being attitudes that businesses
display to the public, the real feelings are put forth when the loss of profit becomes a feasible threat.
These attitudes are simply masks being used to disguise the harshness and cruelty of major, important
companies (Prasad). During times of financial stress, companies have been known to put the issue of air
pollution on the back burner. Businesses are always looking to make a positive and lasting impression
for their consumers. Therefore, this leads to faulty proposals and promises that businesses intend to
meet. Prasad also introduces challenges that the automobile industry in India is going to have to
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overcome in order to continue gaining business and consumer support. The changing wants and needs of
the Indian public create crucial demands that must be met by the leading automobile businesses. This
requires companies to create vehicles with higher productivity, efficiency, and innovation (Prasad).
Consumers will push for things that businesses must adopt such as lowered prices or specific
manufacturing needs and wants. The people want clean air, and buying cars that pollute the air even
further will not appeal to their satisfaction, causing companies to have to construct major alterations in
their plans. The rather ironic side of the matter is that the severe air pollution is now branching even
beyond the environment and the people, now affecting great wonders and monuments. And while the
lack of awareness for this pollution is supposed to make the Indian government more money, it is in fact
directly taking money away by destroying and eroding once attractive and profitable tourist locations.
Despite the feelings of these ignorant and egoistic businesses and government, the problem of air
pollution is in fact one that cannot be overlooked. Evidence shows that the severe pollution in India is
now also targeting important structures. Lindsay Lowe starts an article with an identification of a
problem in India and what it is causing to happen to the great Taj Mahal, resulting directly in loss of
revenue, reputation, and overall attractiveness of the scenery. The Taj Mahal, located in the city of Agra,
is beginning to lose its flashy white color fading to a browner and more unappealing hue. This is due to
the air pollution all across the country; however we have not previously possessed the knowledge of what
contaminants exactly are causing the erosion (Lowe). The main sources of this exterior alteration, as
identified by scientists, is a combination of automobile and diesel pollutants, dust from farms, many types
of factories, and the unique burning of cow dung. Evidence such as this should ultimately be the last
straw for anyone looking to have a healthy life full of beautiful scenes and sites, hopefully leading to
introductions of new laws and reformation of current laws relating to the air pollution.
As this major issue becomes known worldwide, there have been recent methods created in order
to dilute the pollutants that surround the cities and artifacts like the Taj Mahal. Lindsay Lowe describes
valuable efforts created in order to rebuild the health of these cities. One of these methods is simply the
banning of cars near important monuments. However, harsher steps have been taken to further benefit
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them; In January, the burning of cow dung was banned from the city. The act of burning garbage will
now result in a heavy fine as well. Air pollution is constantly being investigated as the Indian government
searches for more useful methods to prevent it (Lowe). By enacting small but powerful laws and
regulations such as these, the impacts sourcing from chemical exposure and automobile use can be
intensely limited. In an article on recent laws of India, Tommy Wilkes and Sankulp Phartiyal tell us the
new laws being enacted in order to prevent further diesel pollution; Indias top environmental court on
Monday ordered authorities to remove all diesel vehicles at least 10 years old off the capital citys streets
in a bid to help clean New Delhis polluted air. Reformation tactics and beneficial policies are being put
into action in order to clean up the air throughout the country and cities of India, hopefully leading to a
safer and more tolerable environment for citizens and tourists to behold.
Gathering from the tremendously harmful effects that air pollution is having on India, it is
necessary to continue to enact further laws and regulations that cut down the amount of pollutants and
chemicals being released into the atmosphere. If pollution continues to occur as rapidly as it is now, the
fate of India will have already been determined, at unfortunately it is not something to look forward to. In
an article written by Ciele Edwards, the results of continued pollution and Indias ultimate demise is
explained. If pollution in India continues at the excruciatingly quick rate it currently is, the overall human
population and environment could be absolutely devastated in the near future (Edwards). The repeated
exposure to the sharp toxins can eventually lead to decrease in the population of organisms all over the
world, including species that inhabit land as well as aquatic species. According to the Environmental
Protection Agency, and estimated one to 11 percent of all marine species will fall into extinction every
decade between 1975 and 2015. Plenty of other results of continued air pollution are guaranteed to
increase such as a variety of human illnesses, global warming, and economic depressions linking directly
back to human illnesses and the expenses that must be paid towards them. In order to benefit coming
generations and the works we have made, policies like these are crucial. The time for the rebuilding and
Works Cited
Anand, Geeta. "India's Air Pollution Rivals China's as World's Deadliest, shows Study." The Hindu, 15
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"Environmental concern amidst industrialisation." Down To Earth, 14 Mar. 2017. Environmental Studies
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live&scope=site.
Lowe, Lindsay. "Clearing the Air." Scholastic News -- Edition 5/6, vol. 83, no. 15, 23 Feb. 2015, p. 6.
EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=prh&AN=101057571&site=eds-
live&scope=site
Pearson, Natalie Obiko and Rakteem Katakey. "India's Diesel Cars Are Proving Lethal." Bloomberg
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Prasad, Durga. "Indian Automotive Industry: Possibilities and Challenges." Indian Automotive Industry:
Possibilities and Challenges. Business Landscape, 10 Aug. 2013. Web. 05 May 2017
Ross, Eleanor. "Something in the Air." Newsweek Global, vol. 168, no. 11, 24 Mar. 2017, p. 34.
EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=121997596&site=eds-
live&scope=site
Sharma, Dinesh C. "Concern over Mercury Pollution in India." Lancet, vol. 362, no. 9389, 27 Sept. 2003,
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Wilkes, Tommy, and Sankalp Phartiyal. "Indian Court Orders Older Diesel Vehicles off New Delhi's