Delhi is currently the 3rd most polluted major city, according to IQAir. The capital of India continues to rank among the highest in cities with the worst air quality.
According to a report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air on the assessment and progress of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), Delhi’s PM2.5 levels in 2023 exceeded National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) on 57% of the days monitored and World Health Organization (WHO) standards on 100% of the days.
In 2023, Delhi recorded an average PM2.5 of 102 micrograms per cubic meter.
PM2.5 are very small particles, having a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller, usually found in smoke. They are a common air pollutant. PM10, meanwhile, are particles with a diameter of 10 micrometers or less. The concentration of these pollutants is a measure of how much of the substance is present in the air and is measured in micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³).
All these particles are small enough for us to breathe deeply into our lungs, and once inhaled, they can cause serious health effects.
The national capital had a marginal improvement of 5.9% from its levels in 2019 but saw an increase of 2.5% in the PM2.5 level from the 2022 level. With that, Delhi continues to be among the cities that are significantly behind in achieving the target of reducing PM10 and PM2.5 under the country’s National Clean Air Programme.
The program aims at reducing average particulate matter concentrations in the next three years in 131 cities. Originally, when the program was launched in 2019, the aim was to reduce pollution by 20% to 40% by 2024, later to be shifted to 2026.
Rising Air Pollution Wreaking Havoc
Air pollution levels in most Indian cities surpass national standards and international guidelines, as per the recent report released by Respirer Living Sciences and Climate Trends, in which it analyzed the five-year performance of the NCAP.
The five-year analysis revealed that complete data was only available for 49 cities, of which 27 cities recorded improvements in PM2.5 levels during this period. The analysis also found that a vast majority, 18 of the 20 most polluted cities under the Program, were in the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
According to the state of global air, air pollution levels currently have decreased life expectancy worldwide by an average of close to two years. It further noted that the life expectancy cut down by air pollution is about the same rate as that of tobacco use. The impact of air pollution on life expectancy has been found to be greatest in less-developed areas, particularly in Oceania, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa.
Meanwhile, a report from August released by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) stated that PM2.5 air pollution is estimated to shorten lives in India by 5.3 years. In Delhi, which is considered to be the most polluted city in the country, life expectancy is being shortened by almost 12 years.
The poor air quality has been due to the expansion of the polluting industries and coal-based power stations operating in the national capital. Sunil Dahiya, analyst, CREA, noted in an interview that the majority of funds set aside for improving the air quality, “are being spent only on dust mitigation and on false solutions like smog towers.”
Now, the Delhi government is trying another approach: using bio-enzymes to address the issue of air pollution.
Looking at Bio-Enzymes as a Solution
To address the problem of air pollution, biological methods are being considered due to their higher efficiency, biocompatibility, and of course, for being environment-friendly. Among these bioremediation methods, enzymes play a crucial role in remedying different types of organic and inorganic pollutants. It is also possible to engineer the enzymes to enhance their efficiency and stability for special conditions.
Bio-enzymes, or biological enzymes, are organic molecules produced by microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast, fungi, and algae. These organic solutions are produced by fermenting the organic waste, such as flowers, plants, vegetable peels, and fruits, which are then mixed with sugar, molasses, and water. The solution is then left to ferment for a period of 60-100 days, a process that can be hastened with the use of yeast.
Bio-enzymes are basically used to break down organic matter into small pieces. When these enzymes engage with an organic compound, they get attached to the molecule and start breaking it apart. As they release molecules into the solution, which interact with each other, they create new chemical bonds, and further help speed up the breakdown of the organic matter.
One way to look at enzymes is through the human digestion process. Enzymes are released by our saliva, intestines, liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. Different types of enzymes present in our body break down the food we eat into small molecules and speed up the chemical reactions that allow nutrients from the food to be turned into substances that can be easily absorbed into our blood and then carried throughout our body.
Delhi is now exploring the use of biological enzymes to bring down air pollution, something that has already been tried in other states of India, just not for the same purpose. Back in early 2023, some farmers in Punjab came together and, with the help of the state’s Horticulture Department, went on a mission to use biological enzymes as an alternative to chemical fertilizers as the degraded soil and polluted air and water affected the local environment.
The bio-enzymes, in this case, were prepared by fermentation of left-over fruits and jaggery. The results from using bio-enzymes on the crops were “amazing,” with the yield turning out to be “much better,” said Vipesh Garg, the horticulture development officer at the time. As a result, Garg, who is also the nodal officer of Project Bioenzymes, Punjab, noted that:
“In some farms, the bio-enzymes have replaced chemical fertilizers completely.”
There are several reasons for using bio-enzymes; for starters, they are more safe than the chemicals currently in use as they don’t leave behind toxic residues. They also repel pests & small insects without having any side effects. Moreover, bio enzymes have the ability to enhance photosynthesis in plants and increase their flowering and fruiting.
It has even been found to be reducing the cost of cultivation for farmers. In areas where the use of synthetic fertilizers and chemicals has polluted the quality of groundwater, bio enzymes work as water quality enhancers. Garg said:
“We need to promote these in the state where diseases like cancer, anemia, and diabetes are spreading tentacles. Bio-enzymes could be a solution to all the problems.”
Given the benefits of bio-enzymes, the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has begun researching them, while the Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering & Technology (CIPHET) organized a bio-enzymes awareness camp for farmers.
Bio-enzymes have several use cases besides replacing fertilizers. They are natural cleaners and can be used as non-chemical cleaning products for scrubbing tiles, mopping floors, declogging a drain, removing limescale deposits, and even as body wash. Now, in Delhi, we are seeing yet another use of bio-enzymes but the question is if they are really working and whether they are feasible to be used at a large scale.
Are Bio-Enzymes Really Making an Impact?
In Delhi, an experiment was conducted with bio-enzymes in Rohini and Wazirpur in December. The pilot project showed encouraging results in the form of a 30% to 55% decrease in particulate matter pollution.
The usage of biological enzymes isn’t entirely new, as it has been applied to treat wastewater and lower contamination at landfill sites. However, according to Podilapu Mounica Kavya from R R Geocycle Private Limited, the firm responsible for the pilot project:
“This is possibly the first instance of using this method to combat air pollution in India.”
During the experiment, biological enzymes were dissolved in water in a 1:5000 ratio to create a solution, which was then sprayed in the selected regions via anti-smog guns provided by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Public Works Department (PWD). The solution was sprayed in three eight-hour cycles over a nine-day period; between Dec. 16-24.
The report submitted by R R Geocycle Private Limited to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) showed a 32% drop in PM10 levels and a 55% decrease in PM2.5 levels on average. However, the positive effects didn’t last long as in a matter of three hours of stopping the usage of biological enzymes, PM10 levels jumped by 51% and PM2.5 levels by 62% on average, the report noted.
Better results were achieved when the solution was sprayed for seven hours continuously as this resulted in reducing the PM2.5 and PM10 levels by 60 to 65%. Additionally, the concentration of gaseous air pollutants nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) also decreased notably. Meanwhile, ozone levels increased, as per the report.
When it comes to the cost, the firm conducting the pilot noted that biological enzymes’ usage would amount to Rs 2,000 per liter (just over $24), and spraying them across the entire city would cost as much as Rs 40 crore (about $4.82 million) over 45 days.
Using biological enzymes is an innovative approach to tackle air pollution issues. Hence, experts are calling for the need to review it and study its impact on ecology and meteorological conditions to ensure that it is, in fact, safe for humans and animals alike. However, the fact that authorities are finally exploring different ways to address the grave issue of air pollution shows that governments might finally be taking this seriously, and we may see successful attempts at resolving the problem.
“Sustained efforts must continue to achieve nationwide cleaner air,” said Aarti Khosla, director, Climate Trends, “underscoring the importance of robust regulatory frameworks aligned with global standards and public health gains.”
Conclusion
Delhi’s severe air pollution, marked by PM2.5 levels far exceeding both national and international standards, has led to a significant reduction in life expectancy, with estimates suggesting a reduction of nearly 12 years.
Despite some progress under the National Clean Air Programme, the city lags in meeting its pollution reduction targets. Amidst these challenges, the Delhi government is exploring the use of bio-enzymes, a bioremediation method, to combat air pollution.
These enzymes, produced by fermenting organic waste, have shown promise in initial experiments, reducing particulate matter pollution significantly. However, their long-term efficacy and impact on a larger scale remain to be fully understood and evaluated.
This innovative approach, though costly, reflects a growing recognition of the need for diverse and sustainable solutions to tackle the pressing issue of air pollution and its dire consequences on public health.
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