Punjab: Incidents of farm fires reduced, aerosol levels remain high

Punjab: While the government is claiming a significant reduction in the number of farm fires compared to previous years, experts have found that the presence of aerosols has remained the same as in previous years. Aerosol loading is the amount of solid and liquid particles suspended in the air, such as dust, smoke and haze. These particles can be natural or man-made and can have a significant impact on health. Dr Ravinder Khaiwal, professor of environmental health at the Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, who is also the nodal faculty officer at the Centre of Excellence on Climate Change and Air Pollution Related Illnesses programme of the Ministry of Health, said, “Aerosols can cause respiratory problems, especially for people with pre-existing diseases. They can also travel long distances, carrying pollutants, bacteria and viruses.” “Stubble burning is a major contributor, if not the main reason, behind the increasing amount of pollutants,” Khaiwal said. Dr Khaiwal said, “The atmospheric boundary layer decreases from 1,200-13,000 feet to 500-600 feet at this time of the year. The average wind speed is around 2 km per hour. Major agricultural activities, including paddy harvesting and preparing the fields for the next crop, also take place during this period. The soil also remains loose due to dry weather, which increases dust pollution. Above all, burning of stubble, especially in the evening, increases pollution levels.” … Dr Hiren Jethwa, a senior research scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center who is affiliated with Morgan State University, wrote on his X handle that although the declining trend has been quite sharp in 2022, 2023 and 2024, the aerosol loading or pollutants in the atmosphere have increased or remained almost stable compared to previous years.