Perceptions about Air Quality and its Management in Pune

Survey Report

By Parisar and CEE

May 2019

Perceptions about Air Quality and its Management in Pune: Survey Report

May 2019

Parisar

Parisar is an NGO working in the field of environmental awareness, education and action since its formation in the early 1980s. Its area of interest spreads across a wide range of subjects from nature conservation to sustainable development, in fact everything that affects our ability to live on the earth- the air, the water, the quality of land- all that which contributes to our healthy planet and, in turn, healthy life.

CEE

Centre for Environment Education (CEE) was established in August 1984 as a Centre of Excellence supported by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. CEE, a national institution with its headquarters in Ahmedabad, has a mandate to promote environmental awareness nationwide.CEE’s mission is to enhance understanding of sustainable development in formal, non-formal and informal education through its work with schools, higher educational institutions, policy makers and reaching out to youth and the general community. It is to integrate education as a key driver for change in demonstrating and advancing sustainable practices in rural and urban communities, and in business and the public sector, and in meeting challenges of global issues such as climate change and biodiversity conservation. CEE promotes individual and collective positive Handprint actions that are environmentally sound, economically viable &socially beneficial. As part of its Urban Programmes, CEE’s work includes projects on sustainable mobility, road safety, waste management, sanitation, groundwater, biodiversity conservation, air quality management and participatory governance. CEE works with schools, colleges, community groups, research institutions, networks and government agencies. Authors Sanskriti Menon, Sharmila Deo Advisory group Dr Manas Ranjan Ray, Sunil Dahiya, Ranjit Gadgil, Amarnath Karan Survey support Sakshi Shah, Aakash Mutkule, Khushi Dave, Khushi Malviya, Loukik Kamlapure, Simpy Kumari, Sarvesh Navgare, Shubham Jadhav, Sunil Vyavahare (Interns at CEE and Parisar) Layout Ashok Thorve

CONTENTS

Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................................... vi

Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 1

Sample Characteristics ............................................................................................................................... 3

Survey Findings .......................................................................................................................................... 4

Familiarity with terms.....................................................................................................................................4 Familiarity with Air Quality status of Pune .....................................................................................................4 Reference to Digital Displays ..........................................................................................................................4 Awareness about non-attainment cities ........................................................................................................5 Perceptions about which occupational group is most affected by poor ambient air quality ........................5 Perceptions about which age group is impacted the most by poor ambient air quality ...............................6 Knowledge about disorders caused by air pollution ......................................................................................6 Awareness about Different Air Pollutants ......................................................................................................7 Perceptions about Impacts of Air Pollutant on the Human Body ..................................................................7 Awareness about Sources of Air Pollution inPune city ..................................................................................8 Perceptions about Air Quality Management..................................................................................................9 Awareness about Clean Air Action Plan for Pune ..........................................................................................9 Perceptions about the best way to ensure the execution of an Air Action Plan ...........................................9 Preferences for Receiving Information about Poor Air Quality .................................................................. 10 Suggestions to address air pollution ........................................................................................................... 11

Key Inferences ......................................................................................................................................... 12

References ............................................................................................................................................... 13

Appendix – Survey Form........................................................................................................................... 14

ABBREVIATIONS AQ Air Quality

AQM Air Quality Management

AQI Air Quality Index

CPCB Central Pollution Control Board

COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

MPCB Maharashtra Pollution Control Board

NAAQS National Ambient Air Quality Standards

PM Particulate Matter

NAMP National Air Quality Monitoring Programme

NMT Non-Motorised Transport

INTRODUCTION

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has prescribed the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)) in 2009 under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act. Cities that consistently violate these standards with respect to the air quality are termed as non-attainment cities. These cities have been identified based on the ambient air quality data obtained (2011-2015) under the National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP). Out of the 102 cities identified across India, Maharashtra has 17 non-attainment cities, including Pune. The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) has been recently launched by the Central government with a goal to reduce air pollution by 20-30% by 2024[1].

Parisar and CEE are non-profit organizations working in the environment sector and concerned about the deteriorating air quality in Pune and other urban areas. The organisations believe that public understanding is a key element of Air Quality Management. Public awareness that we must have a safe environment, and engagement to devise robust solutions are essential to mitigate the air pollution and improve air quality in the city.

Based on recent interactions in Pune, we also realize that awareness among the public and NGOs about the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and structured air quality management action is diffuse, though there is considerable interest in both air quality and climate change issues. We believe that Air Quality Management and Climate Change response requires multi-stakeholder approaches. While governments at various levels have responsibilities, this alone is not enough. An informed, engaged and responsive public that demands, supports and contributes to the required actions is essential [2]. For real change, as a recent report by Vital Strategies[3] suggests, such public demand must be focused on appropriate interventions.We believe that working towards creating a well-informed and active public that acts through structured, inclusive and innovative democratic mechanisms, may be the most robust strategy for change in a complex socio-political ecosystem.

With this context, Parisar and CEE conducted a rapid survey in May 2019 to assess public understanding and perceptions about air quality (AQ), the causes and impacts of air pollution, and ideas about how to manage AQ.

The survey was conducted using a questionnaire with 15 questions (See Appendix).The survey was administered online using Google Forms, with the link shared through e-mail and WhatsApp groups of citizens in Pune. The physical forms were filled out by volunteers across Pune region and covered the following areas – Bavdhan, Kothrud, Karve Road, Akurdi, Bibwewadi, Swargate, Parvati, Sahakarnagar, Dhanakawdi, Katraj, Mangalwar Peth, Mandai, Dagdusheth Ganpati, Senapati Bapat Road, Savitribai Phule Pune University. The survey was carried out through May 2019 over 16 days. This report presents the findings from the survey and draws inferences for future work on enhancing public understanding about air pollution and air quality management.

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SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS

The sample group represented a well-balanced ratio with regard to age as well as gender.

Since the survey was administered online too, majority of the respondents were educated and professionals, with graduate and above levels of education. There was a fair representation of school and college students.

The sample had a mix of formal and informal sector workers, homemakers, students and retired persons. However, there is a high proportion of professionals and students. Expanded Labels

• Entrepreneur/ freelance/ self employed

• Education, Teacher, Researcher

• Professionals include architect, planner, CA, consultant, design, medical, engineer, HR, IT, software, lawyer, media, social media, social entrepreneur, management, sustainability, NGOs.

0 20 40 60 80 100

Civil services

Not working

Traffic police

Retired

Entrepreneur/ freelance/ self…

Education, Teacher, Researcher

Homemaker

Auto driver/ cab driver

Business/ hotelier/ shopkeeper

Worker/ daily wage/ tea stall/…

Service

Not specified

Professionals (architect, planner,…

Students

Occupation

26%

34%

31%

9%

Age

Below 25

25-40

41-59

60 and above

1%2%

14%

14%

69%

Education

Not educated

In college

Not answered

School

Graduate andabove

51%

49%

0%Sex

Male

Female

Non binary98%

2%

City

Pune

Other

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SURVEY FINDINGS Familiarity with terms Almost everyone was familiar with ‘Air Pollution’ but50% and less were familiar with ‘Air Quality Index’, ‘Particulate Matter’ and ‘Ultrafine particles’. This indicates the need to enhance public understanding about types of air pollutants.

Familiarity with Air Quality status of Pune 43% think that the air quality of Pune is ‘Moderate’. The AQI through the month in which the survey was conducted fluctuated between ‘Good’ and ‘Moderate’.

Reference to Digital Displays 50% of the respondents said that they refer to the digital displays in the city to check air quality. Two sets of display systems present air quality information in Pune. One set displays the AQI developed under the SAFAR programme of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology. Variable Message Displays have also been installed by the Pune Smart City Development Corporation and display air quality monitored through 50 sensors set up under the Pune Smart City projects.

49%

51%

Do you refer to digital displays

Yes

No

0

200

400

600

AirPollution

Air QualityIndex

ParticulateMatter

UlrafineParticles

Familiarity with Terms

8%

12%

43%

21%

14%

2%

Perception about AQ status of Pune

Good

Satisfactory

Moderate

Poor

Very poor

Severe

The Air Quality Index

Scientists from the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and IITM, Pune came up with the concept of AQI in India. The AQI has been developed to provide advice on expected levels of air pollution. The purpose of the AQI is to help you understand what local air quality means o your health. The value of AQI corresponds to concentration of the specific pollutant present in the air at the time of measurement. Different AQI values are generated for various pollutants.

To make it easier to understand, the AQI is divided into colour bands... (n)obody needs to fear going outdoors to perform their routine activities. Severity of the presence of air pollutant depends on its concentration in the air. AQI value represents the concentration of pollutant in the air.

From http://pune.safar.tropmet.res.in/AQI.aspx

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Awareness about non-attainment cities The response to the question ‘Which of these do you think are non-attainment cities?’ indicates that there is poor awareness about all the non-attainment cities, though Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur are correctly identified by a large proportion of the respondents. About 50% responses show Pune as a non-attainment city and hence it implies that 50% feel that Pune meets the NAAQS.

The responses indicate the need to enhance awareness that Pune does not meet the standards for air quality. The percentage of correct responses (‘all of the above’) about non-attainment cities is 13%.

Perceptions about which occupational group is most affected by poor ambient air quality The question on perceptions about vulnerability of population groups based on exposure generally pointed to correct identification;84% agreed that most impacted groups were the most exposed ones, like hawkers and vendors, traffic constables, auto drivers etc. The groups of people who needed to commute just once a day, e.g teachers, people doing a desk-job, working in a shop etc, are perceived to undergo medium impact, whereas those who did not need to commute are perceived to be least impacted.

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500

People who are on roads for longer time (eg. trafficpolice, delivery boys, auto drivers, hawkers, etc)

People who commute once a day ( eg. office goers,teachers, people doing deskjobs etc)]

People who work from home

Perceptions about who is affected the most by ambient air quality

1 (most affected) 2 3 (least affected)

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Delhi

Mumbai

Pune

Nagpur

All of the above

I don't know

Nashik

Srinagar

None of the above

Ahmedabad

Awareness about non-attainment cities

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Perceptions about which age group is impacted the most by poor ambient air quality While young children are the most vulnerable age group to air pollution[4], responding to impacts on people categorised by age, about 60% of the respondents were unaware that young children are the most vulnerable to poor air quality. This could be due to different perceptions on how much exposure this age group is subjected to. The perception that children are not the most vulnerable needs to be corrected so as to avoid exposure of children to air pollution.

Knowledge about disorders caused by air pollution There is low understanding about disorders caused by air pollution, as only 22% provided the correct response (‘all of the above’). Asthma and allergies got the highest selection, perhaps because these are the most visible impacts and acute, as compared to heart disease or cancer which are chronic. There was little link established between air pollution and neurological illnesses and mental disorders.

0 100 200 300 400 500

Youth and Middle aged (15 to 59 years)

Elderly (60 years and above)

Young children (0 months to 14 years)

Perceptions about which age group is impacted the most by poor ambient air quality

1 (most impacted) 2 3 (least impacted)

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Asthma

Allergies

Heart disease

Birth defect

Cancer

All of the above

Neurological illnesses

Mental disorders

I don't know

None of the above

Knowledge about disorders caused by air pollution

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Awareness about Different Air Pollutants

While almost 46% thought carbon monoxide caused these disorders, 15% were able to answer correctly. PM 2.5 is the one pollutant which is responsible for causing the disorders mentioned in the previous question. Awareness on pollutants and the health impacts caused by them needs to be focussed upon.

Perceptions about Impacts of Air Pollutant on the Human Body The liver followed by the kidney is the most vulnerable organ from the given choice in the survey. However, eyes were selected by almost 50% of the respondents. This shows the need to enhance awareness that it is not only the eyes and lungs that may be impacted, and that certain air pollutants can move from the lungs to deep inside the body causing extensive health damage in different body parts.

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

Carbon monoxide

I don't know

Sulphur dioxide

Nitrogen dioxide

All of the above

PM 2.5

PM 10

None of the above

Nitrous oxide

Which air pollutants are very hazardous, and can cause premature deaths due to heart attack, stroke, COPD and lung cancer

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

Eye

Liver

Kidney

All of the above

Brain

I don't know

Thyoid

Bone marrow

None of the above

Perception about body organs most vulnerable to airborne pollutants

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Awareness about Sources of Air Pollution inPune city The survey responses identify vehicular emissions, followed by industrial emissions and burning of biomass and garbage as the biggest sources of pollution for Pune. These are likely to be important sources.

Currently, updated studies are not available with an inventory of the different types of emissions and contributions from different sources in Pune. Nevertheless, work needs to be done on both these fronts, especially since there is a clear trend of growth of motor vehicles in Pune[5], as well as instances of waste burning in certain pockets, especially peri-urban regions, highlighted by media and citizens groups[6,7].

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500

Burning of biomass and garbage

Vehicular emissions

Industrial emissions

Construction dust

Road dust

Perceptions about sources of air pollution in Pune

1 (most polluting) 2 3 4 5 (least polluting)

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Perceptions about Air Quality Management Citizens’ participation in the making of an action plan was largely supported by the respondents.

Awareness about Clean Air Action Plan for Pune 40% think that an action plan for Pune exists. However, no plan has been made publicly available so far.

Perceptions about the best way to ensure the execution of an Air Action Plan The formation of a multi-stakeholder committee constituting PMC, MPCB, citizens, experts etc for the execution of the plan was the most favoured choice (37%). Two other suggestions were:

• All come together to form a body to achieve targets

• There should be two governing authorities in which one will be citizen and other will be local government body; apart from these two, all other associated stakeholders like MPCB and experts should be associated under these. Other responses included ‘No idea’ and ‘it’s a technical matter’.

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

A multiple stakeholders' committee ( PMC, MPCB,citizens, experts, etc) should be formed for the purpose

A citizens' monitoring and support group should liasonwith PMC for execution

A single government department should be responsibleand accountable

The PMC should take on its implementation and updateat periodic intervals

No answer

Other

What according to you is the best way to ensure the execution of an Action Plan?

80%

20%

Perceptions about need for citizens participation in Air Action Plan for Pune

YesNo

40%

60%

Do you think a clean air action plan for Pune is already in existence?

YesNo

10

Preferences for Receiving Information about Poor Air Quality The most favoured media to receive information about poor air quality are newspapers and phone apps. Digital displays and Radio alerts were the next choices. About 9% did not want the information at all.

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Don't want to receive such information

Radio

Digital displays

Alerts through a phone app

Newspaper

How would you like to receive information about poor air quality?

xxxx

A phone app that displays air quality has been developed by IITM.

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Suggestions to address air pollution One of the questions in the survey was on suggestions to reduce air pollution in Pune, inviting an open text response.To analyse these text responses, all the suggestions were copied into MS Word as a table. A code was allocated to each suggestion. If the response contained more than one suggestion, the different suggestions were separated out and distinctly coded. The entire set of coded suggestions were then sorted by the code. The number of suggestions in each code were counted. This presents an understanding of what the public considers as the most important mitigation measures. It may be noted that these are coherent with the perception about the causes of air pollution.

0 20 40 60 80

Other (control fire crackers, corruption, energyconservation)

Improved display systems

Avoidance of Diesel Genset Use

Traffic Management

Control industrial air pollution

Promote CNG use

Construction dust management, avoid unnecessaryconcretization

Improved Vehicle Technology

Install air purifiers on roads

Road dust management

Promote NMT

Studies/ plans monitoring, health impacts, good practices

Promote electric vehicles

Improve waste management, control burning

Public awareness, public engagement

Control private vehicle usage

Greening

Better enforcement of existing rules (PUC checks,industrial emissions, construction dust management)

Improve public transport

Suggestions to address air pollution

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KEY INFERENCES

• Although it appears that most people have heard about air pollution as an issue, the survey indicates that more awareness is required to understand the kinds of health impacts that are caused due to poor air quality. A greater public understanding will lead to greater demand for and engagement in mitigation actions.

• The survey indicates that people perceive traffic emissions and waste burning as two main sources of air pollution. These are likely to be important sources, though updated emissions inventory/ source apportionment is not available. Even while source apportionment studies mandated by the government are underway, work needs to be done on both these fronts, without necessarily waiting for the results of the studies. With the ever-increasing trend of owning private motor vehicles, increasing consumption and combustion of fossil fuels in the city, and owing to the non-service areas of waste management in certain pockets, especially peri-urban regions, these sources are likely to be among the most significant polluters.

• It is encouraging to note that vulnerable populations are generally correctly identified in terms of exposure, but efforts need to be made to help the public understand the impacts on young children, and measures to avoid exposure.

• While a large proportion of respondents say they are looking at display boards, people have opted for receiving updates on apps, as well as through newspapers. Going forward, in order to develop an Air Quality communications programme as is recommended in the NCAP, it may be useful for the city government to promote deployment of multiple communication channels to reach the air quality information to the public.

• There is considerable interest in multi-stakeholder approaches, both at the planning as well as the execution stage of the city action plan. It will be important to set up platforms for constructive engagement of the public in better understanding of AQ, for taking protective measures as well as devising mitigation solutions.

This rapid survey is indicative of the perceptions about the issues of air pollution. More comprehensive studies will need to be done to understand awareness and perception among different groups. Such studies would be useful to develop effective public communications about sources, impacts and protective measures, and facilitate public engagement in air quality management.

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REFERENCES 1. Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt of India. NCAP: National Clean Area Programme.

2. Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation. Aligning for Solutions on Air Pollution in India [Internet]. 2019 Mar. Available from: https://shaktifoundation.in/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Full-Report.pdf

3. Vital Strategies. Hazy Perceptions: Public Understanding of Air Quality and its Health Impact in South and Southeast Asia, 2015-2018 [Internet]. 2019 Mar. Available from: http://www.vitalstrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Hazy_Perceptions.pdf

4. WHO. WHO | Environmental Risks [Internet]. WHO. [cited 2019 Jun 5]. Available from: http://www.who.int/ceh/risks/en/

5. Govt of India, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. MOTOR VEHICLES - Statistical Year Book India 2016 [Internet]. New Delhi; 2016. Available from: http://www.mospi.gov.in/statistical-year-book-india/2016/189

6. Bari P. Garbage-burning issue: State pollution board issues notices to Hinjewadi, Maan gram panchayats. Hindustan Times [Internet]. 2018 May 22; Available from: https://www.hindustantimes.com/pune-news/garbage-burning-issue-state-pollution-board-issues-notices-to-hinjewadi-maan-gram-panchayats/story-2hALsi97NH9U0O7hlyzwwK.html

7. Vijaykumar G. Wagholi residents seek solution to waste crisis. The Times of India [Internet]. 2019 Mar 31; Available from: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/wagholi-residents-seek-solution-to-waste-crisis/articleshow/68650607.cms

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APPENDIX – SURVEY FORM Parisar and CEE are doing a survey on Air Quality of Pune to gauge the awareness and perception of citizens regarding the air quality. Please fill up this form which would take you around 5 mins. We will be happy to share the results of the survey and if you have any questions please write to sharmiladeo@gmail.com

a. Age Below 25 25 to 40 years 41 to 59 years 60 years & above

b. Gender Male Female Non-binary

c. Which city do you reside in?

d. Education e. Occupation

1. Which of these terms do you know the meaning of?

Air Pollution Particulate Matter (PM)

Air Quality Index (AQI) Ultra fine Particles (UFP)

2. The AQI (Air Quality Index) informs you of the air quality on any given day. What do you

think is the quality of air that you are breathing in Pune?

Good Satisfactory

Moderate Poor Very Poor Severe

3. Do you refer to the digital displays for checking air quality in Pune ?

Yes No 4. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has identified 102 non-attainment cities that

consistently show poorer air quality than the prescribed National Ambient Air Quality

Standards. Which of these do you think are non-attainment cities?

Delhi Mumbai Srinagar

Nagpur Pune Nashik All of the above None of the above I don't know

5. Which category gets most impacted when air quality deteriorates? Rate them in ascending

order by selecting 1 for most impacted to 3 for the least

Category 1 Most

Impacted

2Medium

impacted

3 Least

impacted

People who commute once a day (teachers, people with deskjobs, etc)

People who are on roads for longer time (eg: traffic police, autodrivers, hawkers, delivery boys)

People who work from home

FormNo.

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6. Which age category gets most impacted when air quality deteriorates? Rate them in ascending

order by selecting 1 for most impacted to 3 for the least

Category 1 Most

Impacted

2Medium

impacted

3 Least

impacted

Youth and Middle aged (15 years to 59 years)

Elderly (60 years and above)

Young children (0 months to 14 years)

7. Air pollution impacts our health in various ways. Which of the disorders do you think are caused

by air pollution?

Asthma Neurological illnesses Mental disorders

Heart disease Cancer All of the above

Birth defects in babies Allergies None of the above

I don’t know

8. Some of the air pollutants are very hazardous to human health and can cause premature deaths

due to heart attack, stroke, COPD and lung cancer. Which component/s is / are this / these?

*Note: Particulate Matter (PM) is the term for particles found in the air, including dust, dirt,

soot, smoke, and liquid droplets. These are classi_ed according to their diameter. Particles

having a diameter of less than 2.5 and 10 micrometres are called PM 2.5 and PM10,

respectively. PM 2.5 are approximately 1/30th the average width of a human hair

Nitrogen Dioxide Carbon monoxide None of the above

Sulphur dioxide PM 10 I don't know

PM 2.5 All of the above

9. After inhalation, some of the air pollutants can move from the lungs to deep inside the body

causing extensive health damage in different body parts. In your opinion which organ/s of our

body is/are most vulnerable to such attacks from airborne pollutants?

Kidney Eye All of the above Liver Brain None of the above

Bone marrow (where blood is formed) Thyroid I don't know

10. What according to you are the sources of air pollution for Pune city? Rate them in ascending

order by selecting 1 for most polluting source to 5 for the least polluting source.

Category 1

Most polluting

2 3 4 5

Least polluting

Burning of biomass

Vehicular emissions

Industrial emissions

Construction dust

Road dust

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11. The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) mandates the non-attainment cities to have an

Action Plan to improve their air quality. Do you think there should be citizens' participation

to make that plan?

Yes, citizens' participation and suggestions should be sought for the plan

No. it is a technical matter and to be handled by experts only

12. What according to you is the best way to ensure the execution of an Action Plan?

The PMC should take on its implementation and update at periodic intervals

A citizens' monitoring and support group should liason with PMC for execution

A multiple stakeholders' committee (PMC, MPCB, citizens, experts, etc) should be formed

A single government department should be responsible and accountable

Other (describe)

13. Do you think a clean air action plan for Pune is already in existence?

Yes No

14. How would you like to receive information about poor air quality?

Alerts through a phone app

Newspaper

Radio

Digital display

Don't want to receive information about Air Quality

15. Do you have any suggestions for improving air quality in Pune?

__________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

****************************** Thank you ***********************************

Surveyor Name: _____________________________________________

Location of survey: Time of survey:

Observations / Comments of surveyor:

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