1. Author Name – Myatari Shruti Hanumantha
Introduction
Air pollution has become one of the most urgent global challenges, affecting health, society, and economies. In India, grassroots studies show that mining districts like Jharkhand face extreme PM2.5 levels harming vulnerable groups. Technological innovations, such as AI-powered air purifiers, attempt to mitigate indoor exposure risks. Economic research highlights the heavy financial burden of pollution-related diseases, draining national resources. Industrial workers in manufacturing sectors are exposed daily to hazardous emissions and toxic metals. Policy measures, like groundwater conservation laws, have had unintended consequences, worsening Delhi’s air quality. Regional modeling reveals that Asia and Africa suffer prolonged pollution episodes compared to Europe. Media discourse analysis shows newspapers frame pollution as both a health and governance crisis. Satellite data link poor air quality to higher tuberculosis incidence and mortality in crowded Indian states. Overall, these studies demonstrate that air pollution is not just an environmental issue but a multidimensional crisis requiring integrated solutions.
Review of Literature:
IMPACT OF AIR POLLUTION ON HEALTH: A NEIGHBOURHOOD LEVEL STUDY LED BY GRASSROOT WOMEN LEADERS IN RURAL JHARKHAND, INDIA
Shrivastava & Saigal (2025) highlight that Jharkhand’s mining districts, particularly Dhanbad and Bokaro, face extremely high levels of PM2.5 pollution far above WHO standards, causing serious health problems. Ten grassroots women leaders, called Paryavaran Sakhis, used a participatory research approach to monitor air quality at 69 sites, conduct surveys and focus group discussions with 200 community members, and map local health facilities. Their findings revealed that pollution hotspots included schools, hospitals, childcare centres, markets, ponds, and mining sites places where vulnerable groups such as women, children, and the elderly are most exposed. Communities identified coal mining, coal transportation, power plants, coal stoves, waste burning, and vehicular emissions as major pollution sources. Health impacts reported included respiratory illnesses, eye and throat irritation, anaemia, and chronic diseases, with women disproportionately affected due to both exposure and caregiving responsibilities. The study also found that government health facilities were poorly equipped to handle pollution-related illnesses. Overall, the research underscores how air pollution is not only an environmental issue but also a social and health crisis, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. By involving grassroots women leaders, the study generated hyperlocal data, empowered communities, and initiated dialogue with stakeholders to push for corrective action at the neighbourhood level.
AI POWERED AQI FORECASTING IN AN INTELLIGENT AIR PURIFIER FEATURING INTENSE FIELD DIELECTRIC AND ZEOLITE FILTERS
Beldar et al. (2025) present a new smart air purifier that uses artificial intelligence to keep indoor air clean and healthy. Since most people spend nearly all their time indoors, they are exposed to dust, smoke, chemicals from paints or candles, and gases that can harm the lungs and heart. The purifier combats these problems with a two-step filter system: one filter (Intense Field Dielectric or IFD) captures very fine dust particles, while another filter made of zeolite absorbs harmful gases and bad smells. What makes this purifier unique is its predictive capability it uses machine learning (AI) to forecast when air quality will worsen and begins cleaning in advance. Sensors measure particles, gases, humidity, and temperature, and the system automatically adjusts fan speed and power to save energy. In tests, it reduced harmful particles (PM2.5) by 76% and gases (VOCs) by 65% in just half an hour. Lightweight and durable, the purifier is made from ABS plastic, runs on electricity or a rechargeable battery, and displays real-time air quality on a small screen. It also connects to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, allowing users to monitor air quality from their phones. In simple terms, this purifier is a smart health device that learns its environment, saves energy, and keeps indoor air fresh and safe in homes, offices, or hospitals.
ECONOMIC BURDEN OF DISEASES CAUSED BY AIR POLLUTION IN IRAN: A CROSS‐SECTIONAL STUDY
Shobeiri et al. (2025) show that air pollution in Iran is not only a health problem but also a major economic burden. Breathing polluted air increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, asthma, and other respiratory illnesses. Research conducted in Mashhad found that the average medical cost per patient was about $4,485, while non-medical costs such as transportation, home care, and accompaniment added another $758. Indirect costs, including lost work days and reduced productivity, amounted to about $1,713 per patient. Altogether, the total economic burden in the sample was nearly $388 million, and when applied nationally, around 55,870 patients in Iran were affected by air pollution-related diseases. Most of the patients were older adults, showing that seniors are especially vulnerable. While many had health insurance, some did not, raising concerns about access to care. The findings highlight how air pollution drains money from families, the healthcare system, and the economy as a whole. Reducing pollution is therefore not just about protecting health it is also about saving money and strengthening the country’s economy. Cleaner air means healthier people and lower costs for everyone.
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO HAZARDOUS EMISSIONS IN INDIAN MANUFACTURING: SOURCE ANALYSIS, CONTROL MEASURES, AND SAFETY STRATEGIES
Gupta et al. (2025) show that industrial workers in India are exposed to dangerous levels of dust and toxic metals across multiple manufacturing sectors. Industries such as cement, marble, brick kilns, construction, flour mills, firecracker production, coal mining, textiles, woodworking, and metal cutting all release extremely high amounts of fine particles (PM2.5), often many times above safe limits. These particles also contain harmful metals including chromium, nickel, arsenic, cadmium, and lead, which pose serious health risks. Workers reported common symptoms such as shortness of breath, sneezing, cough with phlegm, chest pain, eye irritation, skin problems, headaches, and fatigue. Older workers with longer exposure histories showed more severe health issues. Some industries, particularly cement and firecracker manufacturing, carried especially high risks, including cancer risks linked to toxic metals. The study also tested low-cost emission control devices, which reduced harmful particles by up to 90%. Overall, the findings emphasize that many factory workers in India breathe unsafe air daily, harming their health and reducing productivity. Stronger safety measures, protective equipment, and stricter regulations are urgently needed to make workplaces safer.
THE ROLE OF ATMOSPHERIC FEEDBACK AND GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION POLICIES IN DEGRADING AIR QUALITY IN DELHI
Ghude et al. (2025) show that farmers in Punjab and Haryana burn leftover rice stubble after harvesting, and this smoke drifts into Delhi, making the air very polluted in October and November. The 2009 groundwater conservation law unintentionally worsened the situation by delaying rice planting and harvesting, which pushed stubble burning into November a time when colder, calmer weather traps pollution near the ground. Smoke particles further interact with sunlight and heat, stabilizing the atmosphere and lowering the mixing height, which causes pollution to build up more. As a result, severe pollution episodes in Delhi have tripled, with about 40% of the increase caused by this feedback loop. The health impact is serious, with hundreds of extra deaths and thousands of years of life lost each season. The study demonstrates that policies aimed at solving one problem, like saving groundwater, can unintentionally create another, like worsening air quality. The authors argue that India needs integrated environmental strategies that consider both farming practices and atmospheric effects together, instead of isolated fixes.
EXPLORING REGIONAL AIR POLLUTION TRANSITION DYNAMICS: A MULTI-STATE MARKOV MODEL APPROACH
Hossain et al. (2025) examined how air pollution changes over time in Asia, Africa, and Europe using weekly air quality data from 19 countries in 2024. They categorized air quality into three states Good, Unhealthy, and Very Unhealthy and applied a multi-state Markov model to track transitions between them. The results showed that in Asia and Africa, pollution episodes tend to last longer and improve more slowly, with “Very Unhealthy” air often persisting for weeks. For example, in Asia this state lasted about 3.4 weeks, while in Africa it lasted about 1 week. Transitions from Unhealthy to Good were rare, meaning recovery was slow. In contrast, Europe had more stable air quality, with the “Good” state lasting the longest (about 7.7 weeks) and pollution episodes being shorter and less severe. Overall, the study highlights that Asia and Africa face prolonged pollution challenges, while Europe benefits from stronger pollution control measures. These insights can help policymakers design better strategies to protect public health by understanding how long populations are exposed to harmful air.
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING: A COMPUTATIONAL ANALYSIS OF AIR POLLUTION DISCOURSES IN ENGLISH PRINT MEDIA OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN
Rabbani & Ahmed (2025) analysed how newspapers in India and Pakistan discussed air pollution between 2005 and 2023. Using computational text analysis with Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), they found that coverage in both countries focused heavily on health impacts, vehicular and industrial emissions, urbanization, and government control measures. In Pakistan, topics included coal power projects, brick kiln emissions, and health problems such as asthma and cancer, while Indian newspapers emphasized urban smog, industrial growth, and policy responses. Across both contexts, media highlighted the toxic effects of pollution on human health and the environment, but also pointed to weak enforcement of emission standards and limited resources to tackle the crisis. The study concludes that newspapers play a crucial role in shaping public awareness and policy debates, and suggests that policymakers should pay attention to these discourses when designing strategies to reduce pollution.
INVESTIGATING THE GEOGRAPHIC LINKAGE BETWEEN AIRBORNE POLLUTANTS AND TUBERCULOSIS RATES IN INDIA
Kumar et al. (2025) investigated the geographic linkage between air pollution and tuberculosis (TB) in India by combining satellite data on pollutants (PM10, NO₂, SO₂, ozone, and formaldehyde), vegetation cover, land surface temperature, and population density with TB health statistics. Their analysis revealed that northern and central states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh showed the highest overlap of poor air quality, dense populations, and high TB incidence and mortality. Air pollution was strongly associated with TB incidence, while vegetation cover acted as a protective factor, reducing both TB cases and deaths. Population density emerged as the strongest predictor of TB mortality, underscoring how crowded urban areas worsen outcomes. The study concludes that tackling TB in India requires not only medical interventions but also environmental strategies such as reducing emissions and increasing urban greenery to improve air quality and strengthen public health.
DEPARTMENT STORE CHAIN CITES INDIA AIR POLLUTION AS SALES STALL.
Bloomberg (2026) reported that Shoppers Stop Ltd., one of India’s leading department store chains, flagged severe air pollution in northern India during late 2025 as a major factor behind weak sales. Elevated smog levels in November and December reduced consumer mobility and discretionary spending, leading to flat sales and declining earnings. The company noted that pollution-related disruptions were strongest in the winter months, when smog peaks, discouraging customers from visiting retail outlets. This decline in foot traffic highlighted how pollution is now affecting not only public health but also the retail economy. Employee health was also impacted, with Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd.’s finance chief resigning due to pollution-linked health issues. The situation illustrates how environmental challenges are beginning to influence corporate operations, workforce stability, and consumer demand, showing that air pollution has become a serious economic challenge in India.
AIR POLLUTION AND RESPIRATORY AILMENTS AMONG CHILDREN IN URBAN INDIA: EXPLORING CAUSALITY.
Gupta et al. (2025) examined how air pollution affects children’s health in Indian cities, focusing on the incidence of cough. Using fortnightly variations in pollution levels and applying a two‑way fixed effects model, the researchers isolated the causal impact of particulate matter on respiratory illness. They found that air pollution has a strong negative effect on children’s health, and the results remained consistent across different statistical checks. Importantly, the impact was three times greater for children living in slums compared to those outside, highlighting the unequal burden of pollution. Falsification tests ruled out unrelated diseases, strengthening the evidence that pollution is the main driver. The study concludes that improving urban air quality could deliver significant equity‑enhancing health benefits in developing countries, especially for vulnerable children in disadvantaged communities.
Conclusion
The collected studies and articles paint a comprehensive picture of how air pollution affects human lives across multiple dimensions health, economy, society, and policy. From grassroots women leaders in Jharkhand documenting neighbourhood-level health impacts, to advanced AI-powered air purifiers offering technological solutions, the evidence consistently shows that pollution is both a local and global crisis. Research from Iran highlights the heavy economic burden of pollution-related diseases, while occupational studies in India reveal the daily risks faced by industrial workers. Policy-focused work on Delhi demonstrates how well-intentioned groundwater conservation laws inadvertently worsened air quality, underscoring the complexity of environmental management. Regional analyses using Markov models show that Asia and Africa suffer longer pollution episodes compared to Europe, while media discourse in India and Pakistan reflects public concern and weak enforcement. Epidemiological studies further link pollution to tuberculosis rates and children’s respiratory ailments, emphasizing the disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups such as slum dwellers, women, and the elderly. Even businesses like Shoppers Stop Ltd. are now reporting losses due to reduced consumer mobility in polluted months, proving that air quality is not just a health issue but also an economic one. Taken together, these findings highlight that air pollution is a systemic challenge it damages health, weakens economies, disrupts workplaces, and undermines social equity. Addressing it requires integrated strategies that combine policy reforms, technological innovation, community participation, and environmental justice. Cleaner air is not only about protecting lungs; it is about safeguarding livelihoods, reducing inequality, and ensuring sustainable development for future generations.
References
Beldar, P., Kushare, P., Patil, A., & Kumar, G. (2025). AI-powered AQI forecasting in an intelligent air purifier featuring intense field dielectric and zeolite filters. Journal of Engineering and Applied Science, 72(150). https://doi.org/10.1186/s44147-025-00728-3
Del Bello, L. (2026, January 20). Department Store Chain Cites India Air Pollution as Sales Stall. Bloomberg Green.
Ghude, S. D., Kalita, G., Jat, R., Govardhan, G., Debnath, S., Yadav, P. P., Ambulkar, R., Kumar, R., & Attri, S. D. (2025). The role of atmospheric feedback and groundwater conservation policies in degrading air quality in Delhi. npj Clean Air, 1(12). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44407-025-00012-x
Gupta, A., Sharma, R., & Singh, P. (2025). Air pollution and child health: Evidence from Indian cities using fixed effects analysis. Discover Public Health. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12982-025-01088-4
Gupta, G. A., Vishwakarma, P., Ramkumar, J., Patil, S., & Gupta, T. (2025). Occupational exposure to hazardous emissions in Indian manufacturing: Source analysis, control measures, and safety strategies. npj Clean Air, 1(31). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44407-025-00029-2
Hossain, M. I., Sarkar, S., Methun, M. I. H., & Rahman, A. (2025). Exploring regional air pollution transition dynamics: A multi-state Markov model approach. PLOS One, 20(10), e0333849. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0333849
Kumar, V., Tripathi, T., Raj, A., & Kumar, P. (2025). Investigating the geographic linkage between airborne pollutants and tuberculosis rates in India. Discover Public Health, 22(660). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-01049-9
Shobeiri, N., Adel, A., & Rashki Kemmak, A. (2025). Economic burden of diseases caused by air pollution in Iran: A cross-sectional study. Health Science Reports, 8(e71229). https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.71229
Shrivastava, Saumya, and Neha Saigal. (2025). Impact of Air Pollution on Health: A Neighbourhood Level Study Led by Grassroot Women Leaders in Rural Jharkhand, India. Canadian Journal of Action Research, 25(2), 55–73.
Yadav, A. K., Gupta, K., Bodhale, R., & Phuleria, H. C. (2025). Metals and trace element associated health risk in size-segregated household dust of an industrial town in India. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health. Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-025-01794-5