Air Quality Index (AQI) Scenario: Challenges for Environmental Sustainability to Protect Human Life

Abstract

The world's new civilization is now at risk from air pollution and intolerable smog because of the toxicological effects it is having on both human health and the environment. This is because of extending new urbanization over green vegetation and cutting of trees. The unbearable smog is caused by farmers burning crop residue and household air pollutants, although motor vehicles and industrial activities are the main contributors to air pollution. There are numerous distinct emission sources in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab, where farmers burn rice stubble. These states are thought to be responsible for setting fire to almost 40 million tons of produce each year. All of the airborne contaminants and dust particles are carried by the wind which increases the level of pollution. When air emissions rise during burning upwind and rush hour or when a forest fire, the AQI may also rise, which shows the presence of more airborne pollutants, such as dust, fumes, gas, mist, odour, smoke, or vapour, in quantities and over longer periods of exposure may be harmful to human health. The respiratory system is the primary route by which people are exposed to air pollution. Breathing in these pollutants causes inflammation of cells all over our body, under oxidative stress, immune system is suppressed, including carcinogenic and mutagenic effects, which affects the lungs, heart, and brain among other organs and eventually results in disease. This review paper, deals to explore the toxicological issues surrounding the main air pollutants, the sources of emission, the obstacles associated with remedying them, and their effects on human health.