Ammonium sulfate contributes to one-third of Faridabad's PM2.5 pollution

Time of India

2 days ago

Gurgaon: Ammonium sulfate is responsible for a staggering one-third of Faridabad's PM2.5 concentration, according to a study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), which underlined the need for National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) to take a closer look at the secondary pollutant.
Ammonium sulfate forms insidiously in the atmosphere through chemical reactions between sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and ammonia (NH₃). CREA's analysis reveals that this pollutant, averaging 19.76 µg/m³ out of a total PM2.5 level of 58.28 µg/m³ of Faridabad mean data, is prevalent across nearly all NCAP cities, irrespective of their proximity to major emission sources, therefore showing the need for a unified national strategy.
NCAP primarily targets PM10. However, PM2.5 poses great danger to human health, its smaller size allowing it to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream.
The health impacts are severe, ranging from increased risk of premature death, nonfatal heart attacks, irregular heartbeat, aggravated asthma, decreased lung function, and even lung cancer. Faridabad's designation as the sole 'non-attainment' city in Haryana under the NCAP highlights its consistent failure to meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Thị trường có dấu hiệu suy thoái không?
IC Markets
Đăng ký
Undo
These precursor gases are commonly spewed from coal-fired thermal power plants, agricultural fertiliser use and livestock waste — sources that often extend far beyond city limits.
You Can Also Check:
Gurgaon AQI
|
Weather in Gurgaon
|
Bank Holidays in Gurgaon
|
Public Holidays in Gurgaon
The new study further highlights the complex challenges cities are facing. The transboundary nature of ammonium sulfate pollution means that local emission controls, while necessary, are insufficient on their own. A comprehensive, national approach is imperative to tackle this pervasive and deadly component of India's air pollution crisis, ensuring cleaner air for all its citizens.
"To make real progress, NCAP must evolve to include targeted measures for reducing secondary pollutants," said Manoj Kumar, an analyst at CREA, adding that city and state-level clean air action plans must explicitly tackle major sources of precursor gases.
Kumar also emphasised the importance of source-specific strategies, such as installing flue-gas desulfurisation units in coal-fired power plants to reduce sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions, promoting efficient fertiliser management to curb ammonia release and ensuring strict compliance with existing emission norms across all polluting sectors.
The study serves as a wake-up call for policymakers to recalibrate India's clean air strategy, shifting focus from just visible dust to invisible but deadly chemical reactions that are silently poisoning the air.
"In addition to ammonium sulfate, other secondary pollutants like ammonium nitrate also contribute significantly to PM2.5 mass. In fact, secondary particles can account for up to 50% of total PM2.5 mass, according to an IIT study which triggered our analysis.
The IIT study found that even beyond 200km of a thermal plant, sulfate concentrations were found," he added.
Experts also pointed out that the air pollution crisis in cities like Faridabad might not improve until the govt takes all parameters into account. "The dominance of ammonium sulfate in Faridabad's PM2.5 profile is a stark reminder that India's air pollution crisis is no longer just about visible smoke or dust.
It's about invisible chemical transformations driven by coal and fertiliser emissions. Without a strategic shift to tackle secondary pollutants and precursor gases, cities like Faridabad will continue to choke under a haze that knows no boundaries," said Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).
"We recognise the growing complexity of air pollution in Faridabad, especially the role of secondary pollutants like ammonium sulfate.
We are factoring in results of the recent source apportionment study to expand our monitoring network to better understand and tackle these emerging challenges," said an HSPCB official.
NCAP is an initiative launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in Jan 2019. Its primary goal is to improve air quality in 131 cities across India, known as non-attainment cities and million-plus cities. The programme aims at achieving a 20-30% reduction in particulate matter concentrations by 2024, using 2017 as the base year. Recently, the target was updated to a 40% reduction by 2026.