Mumbai: Some of Mumbai’s suburbs, known as critical pollution hotspots, have toxic PM2.5 levels exceeding 100 µg/m³— far above national safety standards. Experts say it highlights the need for precise, localised efforts to protect public health and improve urban air quality.
“Shivaji Nagar (Chembur), Kandivli, and Deonar emerged as critical pollution zones, with PM2.5 levels exceeding 100 µg/m³. Construction dust, vehicular emissions, and waste processing sites were identified as major contributors to the air pollution crisis here,” stated the report titled ‘Decoding Urban Air: Hyperlocal Insights into PM2.5 Pollution Across Indian Metropolises’. The report unveils the state of air quality presently outside the ambit of the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) ambient air quality monitoring network.
It includes location-specific average CPCB data for Nov 2024 across 10 Indian cities but goes a step further by integrating hyperlocal monitoring and analysis, providing granular insights into pollution hotspots that traditional systems may miss.
“Mumbai had 27 air quality monitors active in Nov this year, and the city reported an average of 66 micrograms per cubic meter for PM2.5. The govt monitoring network and the Google Maps AQ data show a good overlap in the identification of the hotspots. Shivajinagar (Chembur), Kandivli-West, and Malad-West ranked among the top 3 in Mumbai,” stated the report.
It has been brought out by Respirer Living Sciences (RLS), a climate tech platform aimed at creating awareness and evolving sustainable solutions for air pollution. “Hyperlocal air quality monitoring is a game-changer for urban India. It bridges the gaps left by traditional monitoring systems, offering real-time, street-level insights into pollution patterns. This granularity empowers policymakers, urban planners, and citizens alike to take targeted, informed actions—whether it’s designing low-emission zones, mitigating hotspots, or adopting cleaner technologies,” said the report.
