All seasons, city air ‘toxic’

Mumbai: Contrary to perception that Mumbai’s coastal environment shields it from the worst of air pollution, a new study has indicated that the city’s Particulate Matter (PM10) levels have consistently breached the national safety threshold of 60 μg/m3, not just during winter but also in summer.

The four-year long study by Respirer Living Sciences (RLS)used data from its AtlasAQ platform, leading to the conclusion that ‘there is no clean season left’ in the country’s commercial capital.

RLS Founder-CEO Ronak Sutaria said that even during the hot season, the PM10 levels are not just above the limits but are multiple times higher with no sustained improvements in the last four years.

“The data tells a very clear story. This is a citywide, year-round issue that must be addressed through urban planning, infrastructure reform, and regulatory enforcement,” urged Sutaria.

RLS added that between 2021 and 2024, Mumbai’s annual PM10 averages were 109.3 μg/m3 in 2021, 119.7 μg/m3 in 2022, 118.6 μg/m3 in 2023, and 90.0 μg/m3 in 2024.

Though there was a slight dip in 2024, Mumbai has remained above the safe limit throughout, with no year offering reprieve.

“The consistently high numbers confirm that even during summer, when pollution levels are typically expected to drop due to better dispersion, PM10 concentrations stayed dangerously elevated,” he said.

Station-level data reveals wide-ranging pollution across the city like Malad West recorded a sharp spike in PM10 levels, rising to 154.5 μg/m3 in 2024 — a nearly 50% increase from 2023.

Similarly, another critical hotspot Shivaji Nagar, notched an alarming 211.0 μg/m3 in 2023 before dropping to 102.2 μg/m3 in 2024, still over 70% above the national limit.

Siddharth Nagar-Worli levels rose from 57.1 μg/m3 in 2021 to 119.2 μg/m3 in 2023 before slightly improving to 105.1 μg/m3 in 2024. Other majorly polluted locations include: Chakala-Andheri East, Kurla, Deonar, Vile Parle West, and Mazgaon, all remaining above safe levels year after year, said RLS.

The report has pointed fingers at traffic emissions, unregulated construction dust, industrial activity near port zones, and inadequate dust control mechanisms as chief culprits for Mumbai’s PM10 burden. It urged for a comprehensive action plan that includes strict enforcement of dust suppression protocols at construction sites, expansion of public transport, improved traffic management, and deployment of real-time monitoring networks at the ward level to drive hyperlocal action. The RLS study also recommends that clean air goals be integrated into the city’s master planning and transport infrastructure strategies.