Analyzing Urban Air Quality Disparities in Mumbai, India: A Micro Level Study

Analyzing Urban Air Quality Disparities in Mumbai, India:

A Micro-Level Study

Authors: Yeshi dolma¹, Kake ortez²

Mentor: Dr. Brian vent hull³

Funded: National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experience for Undergrad (REU)

¹ Health Care Policy and Management, NYC College of Technology, CUNY, ² Biology, Bronx Community College, CUNY, ³ Engineering Department, The City College of New York, CUNY

ABSTRACT

The National Science Foundation (NSF) funded a 3-year project to conduct micro-level investigations of pollution in Mumbai and New Delhi, India. The first set of data was collected in December 2022 – January 2023 by 13 students selected across City University of New York (CUNY) institutions.

The primary focus of this research was to conduct a comparative micro-level analysis of particle count distributions between Dharavi (slum) and an upper-middle-class area (Santa Cruz). These students were equipped with mobile backpacks that have sensors to collect particulate loading and gas concentrations. We examine daily variations in average pollution levels by matching pollution histograms to sources and performing pattern analysis. Visual representation, such as plotting route averages and daily variations of average pollution levels, is used to investigate the relationship between air pollution and meteorological factors like wind and boundary layer height. An analysis was conducted to compare surface aerosol optical depth and satellite aerosol optical depth with respect to boundary layer height. Linear regression is used to extract variations in urban temperature as a function of vegetation and building spacing averages for specific days. The finding of this research demonstrates that wealthy neighborhoods like Santa Cruz typically enjoy better air quality due to investments in green spaces and pollution-reducing infrastructure while poor communities like Dharavi experience a disproportionate burden of pollution from industrial facilities and lack of green spaces, leading to adverse health effects and reduced quality of life.

Access to clean air is a fundamental right, but socioeconomic factors often result in significant disparities in air quality between poor and wealthy neighborhoods. The endeavors of this project will lay the groundwork for the upcoming data collection field campaign and will provide valuable insights into the complex interplay of environmental factors, socioeconomic disparities, and their impact on the health and well-being of urban populations in Mumbai.

Keywords: Pollution analysis, Air quality disparity, Mumbai, Mobile backpacks with sensors, Particulate loading, and gas concentrations.