BLUF: A pioneering study reveals the correlation between crop burning in northwest India and increasing levels of hazardous particulate matter (PM2.5) using affordable, reliable monitoring devices.
OSINT: Researchers from a global agricultural collaborative led by the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN) have completed an unprecedented, quantitative air pollution study in northwest India. The research involved deploying 29 cost-effective, reliable measurement tools to link local and regional air pollution with crop residue burning (CRB).
Fine dust particles measuring less than 2.5 µm in diameter, or PM2.5, pose a significant health risk to global cities’ populations. Though these particles typically originate from industrial sources, some agricultural methods also generate PM2.5, especially during certain seasons. CRB, prevalent in Punjab, Haryana, and parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain following the post-monsoon harvest period, has seen an increase over the last two decades due to rising mechanized farming and delayed rice planting, facilitated by new subsoil water preservation legislation in 2009.
For over a decade, CRB in Punjab and Haryana has captured attention due to its effect on Delhi’s environment. Until this study, there were no measurements of PM2.5 in these contributing regions. To address this gap, researchers initiated a robust field study from September to November 2022 in Punjab, Haryana, and the National Capital Region (NCR), utilizing highly effective PM2.5 Instruments with Gas sensors (CUPI-Gs).
Findings indicated that PM2.5 measurements began at less than 60 µg m-3 between October 6-10 and grew to 500 µg m-3 between November 5-9, indicating a secondary formation of the particles due to atmospheric chemical reactions. These values considerably exceeded national air quality standards. The team managed to track two separate plumes of pollution directly from Punjab to the NCR, attributing it to specific agricultural burning periods.
Professor Prabir K. Patra, leader of the Aakash Project committed to promoting sustainable agriculture and reducing air pollution in Punjab, emphasized the potential impact of public awareness in curbing air pollution. Professor Yutaka Matsumi further highlighted the value of the detailed data collected with a modest budget, which would later be used to measure pollution in other Asian regions.
The study also tracked air pollution’s other effects on the environment, including aerosols’ ability to influence atmospheric thermodynamics and cloud properties, bringing to light the importance of high-quality data from dense measurement networks in dealing with these issues.
RIGHT: The only way to cut through the fog of environmental damage caused by practices like CRB is to empower the local community and farmers with knowledge so they can make data-backed changes to their practices. This study proves why government intervention shouldn’t be the first resort. The free exchange of ideas, research, and technology–like CUPI-Gs–can often be more effective and less disruptive to local economies.
LEFT: The research results underscore the urgent need for regulatory controls to mitigate the harmful effects of practices like CRB on the environment and human health. This case emphasizes the role that governments and policy-making bodies must play to ensure that agricultural industries adhere to sustainable practices.
AI: The study offers data-driven evidence of the relationship between human agricultural practices and air pollution, emphasizing the importance of reducing PM2.5 emissions and finding sustainable farming methodologies. Adoption of such tools as CUPI-G, and conducted campaigns are critical to raising awareness at regional levels, as well as promoting data-drive policy-making that directly addresses air pollution sources and effective mitigation strategies.