A​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ new scientific assessment has revealed an environmental crisis that is becoming more evident in rural Bihar. Bihar faces toxic air on 90% of winter days – a discovery that vastly increases India’s understanding of its air pollution burden.

The study, part of the AMRIT project and published in Environmental Science & Technology, was based on the largest rural PM2.5 sensor network in India. It involved the installation of more than 500 low-cost monitors in all 38 districts. The report states that the average annual PM2.5 concentrations were more than 120 micrograms per cubic meter, which is among the highest levels recorded in rural India.

Source: X

Hidden Air Crisis in Bihar

The report is being published at a time when Delhi is struggling with smog. For several years, the air-quality debates in India have been centred around metropolitan areas such as Delhi and Mumbai. Most of the pollution has been attributed to a mixture of local and regional sources. The emissions from one traditional brick kiln, the use of biomass for cooking and heating, the burning of crop residues, the exhaust gases from sugar mills and thermal power plants, and even forest fires, all contribute significantly to the load of pollutants.

The meteorological conditions characterized by weak winds and the presence of temperature inversion layers have been the main reasons behind the winter pollution. In the northern and central districts, the levels of PM2.5 are often above 200 micrograms per cubic meter, making this one of the most dangerous rural air sheds in India.

The health specialists caution that such prolonged exposure might bring serious consequences. The local population may be at a higher risk of suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, heart disease, and long-term conditions like lung cancer. Children, the elderly, and people with some health problems are the most susceptible to prolonged winter pollution episodes.

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Bihar Faces Toxic Air on 90% of Winter Days, Demands Urgent Action

Researchers claim that the results reveal a critical gap in monitoring. Rural areas in India had almost no air pollution monitoring in real-time until now. With the AMRIT sensor network, not only has the extreme level of rural pollution been unveiled, but also the extent to which the rural pollution crisis has been hidden has been demonstrated.

The data emphasize the need for an airshed-based strategy for pollution control, a method that considers pollutant movement across districts and states instead of treating each administrative boundary separately.

The experts say that with the winter season and the smog problem in Delhi, Bihar needs to be quick in modernising brick-kiln operations, stopping biomass and crop-residue burning, and providing clean household fuels. If these steps are not taken, the unfortunate situation that Bihar faces will remain unchecked.

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