Punjab farm fires affect NCR air quality, study finds
Stubble burning accounts for nearly half of black carbon pollution in rural Punjab, according to a recent research study.
Stubble burning in Punjab contributes to nearly 48 per cent of black carbon pollution in rural areas, according to a study by researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh, and Panjab University, as reported by the Hindustan Times.
The research, published in the journal Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, found that the contribution of crop-residue burning to black carbon levels exceeded 90 per cent during peak hours between 1 pm and 6 pm.
The study was based on a field campaign conducted at Khera village in Punjab from October 27 to November 18, 2023. During this period, black carbon levels averaged 12.6 micrograms per cubic metre, with figures fluctuating between 1.45 and 85 micrograms per cubic metre.
Researchers used a 72-hour forward trajectory model to show that northwesterly winds carry smoke-laden air masses from Punjab towards the Indo-Gangetic plain. This movement potentially impacts air quality in downwind areas, including the National Capital Region (NCR).
Black carbon is a light-absorbing pollutant from the incomplete combustion of biomass and fossil fuels that can penetrate the respiratory system. The monitoring station was located near agricultural fields, approximately 10 km from the Rajpura Thermal Power Plant.
The researchers noted that the findings are based on measurements from a single rural location during one post-monsoon season. They recommended using multi-site monitoring and longer-term datasets to assess wider regional impacts.