CHAIR-consortium: A collaboration for air pollution research across India

Abstract

Ambient air pollution levels in India are among the highest in the world and contribute to climate change and poor health. Despite extreme levels of air pollution and increased frequency and intensity of heat waves in India, current Indian public policy to reduce emissions has been inadequate and lacked a coordinated and sustained effort. Planned coal power plants will additionally contribute to both more CO2 and air pollution emissions. Moreover, lack of monitoring in rural areas has contributed to a belief that air pollution is only an urban problem. To address this we have developed an exposure assessment methodology employing machine-learning methods and multiple data sources including monitoring data, satellite data, meteorology and land-use data to make reliable high resolution predictions of particulate matter <2.5 µm in diameter (PM2.5) and temperature in areas with sparse monitoring. We will develop a nation-wide exposure model for daily ambient PM2.5 and ambient temperature from 2008-2020 at a spatial resolution of 1 km x 1 km and locally at 200 m x 200 m in India. Our aim is to link our national estimates of PM2.5 and temperature to health data to quantify the associations between PM2.5 and ambient temperature, independently and jointly on major public health endpoints. Our specific intention is to make the exposure model an open resource to accelerate environmental epidemiology and build capacity around the many existing health studies in India to which the exposure model can be applied. We will develop an online interactive environmental database and a strategy for stakeholder communication to significantly facilitate decision-making and increase public awareness and engagement. Successful fulfillment of our aims in India will significantly contribute to sustainable development benefitting not only the very large Indian population but also the global community.