Wingify Earth in collaboration with Eco-roots Foundation doing awareness workshops around the theatre and best practices to reduce Air Pollution

1. ECO-CHAMPIONS PROJECT
Enabling Thought & Action among Youth for better Air Quality
Project implemented in 50 Institutes of Delhi- NCR and OrganizeD –
• Awareness Workshops on Air Quality & Air Pollution
• Activation of FIX IT! Game
• Theatre Orientation Workshop for Theatre Groups and Teachers
• Vayu Mahotsav – Competitions on Best Practices & Theatre

2. ATMOSPHERE
• Atmosphere is a thin layer of gas which
surrounds the Earth.
• Three major layers :
• Troposphere
• Stratosphere
• Mesosphere.
• 99% of the volume of clean air is in
Troposphere, which extends 17km above
earth’s surface.
• Troposphere contains
• Nitrogen (78%)
• Oxygen (21%)
• 1% Argon, CO2 and water vapour.

3. Air Quality & Air Pollution
◎ Air quality helps us to decide
whether or not the air is
healthy.
◎ It indicates the condition of
the air surrounding us. It tells
us how clean and healthy the
air we breathe is.
◎ If the harmful components in
the air are more than a
specified amount, air quality is
said to be bad.
Air Quality
◎ Air pollution is caused when harmful gases, dust, smoke, odours or
any toxic substance adversely affecting environment and health is
introduced into the air.
◎ These harmful substances are called air pollutants.
◎ Air pollution is generally categorized as indoor and outdoor air
pollution.
◎ The use of unclean cooking fuel is the major cause of indoor air
pollution.
◎ Emissions from industries, waste and crop burning, vehicles,
and construction work cause outdoor or ambient air pollution.
Air Pollution
Air quality depletes when Troposphere contains materials in concentrations other than Nirtogen (78%), Oxygen (21%) and Others (1%).

4. Air Pollutants
Solid Particles
Liquid Droplets
Gases
PM 10 or less are extremely hazardous
when inhaled, as they enter deep into
your lungs and some can also get into our
blood stream.
Particulate Matter (PM)
PM 10
(10 micro
meter or
less)
Inhalable materials
Bloodstream
Lungs
PM 2.5
(2.5 micro
meter or
less)
Pollutants

5. Sources of Pollutants
Pollutant Sources
Carbon Monoxide Cars, trucks and other vehicles or machinery that burn fossil fuels
Sulphur Dioxide Power plants, metals processing and smelting facilities, and diesel
vehicles
Nitrogen Oxide Construction Equipment, Boats etc.
Volatile Organic Compounds
(VOCs)
Manufacture of paints, pharmaceuticals, and refrigerants
Suspended particulate matter Mining, construction, and building demolition
Photochemical oxidants Ozone and organic aerosol (Smog)
Radioactive substances Mining, Transportation of Uranium or its disposal

6. Suspended particulate
matter (PM)
Smoke from
tobacco and
cooking fuel
Other Pollutants
Biological pollutants
like dust mites, molds,
pollen, and infectious
agents
Heavy metals like
zinc, cadmium,
chromium, mercury,
lead, copper
Building materials
like asbestos, flooring,
adhesives, composite wood
products
Incomplete combustion
particles from cooking
fuel
◎ Combustion of unclean cooking fuels
like biomass, fossils and wood
◎ Tobacco smoke
◎ Airborne particles produced from
microbial, viral, fungal and
actinomycete, microbes from organic
materials, humidifiers, vaporizers,
heating, ventilating, and air conditioning
systems (HVAC)
◎ Resins, waxes, polishing materials and
paints, cosmetics, binders, incense and
mosquito coils
◎ Infectious agents produced in stagnant
water, mattresses, carpets, and
humidifiers
Black carbon
Formaldehyde
Volatile
organic
compounds
Carbon monoxide
Hydrocarbons
Indoor Air Pollution

7. Suspended
particulate
matter
(PM)
Oxides of
sulfur,
arsenic and
fluorine
Ozone
Dust
Bio
aerosols
Carbon
monoxide
Black
carbon
Pesticides
6
7 8
9
5
4
3
Tobacc
o
smoke
2
1
Outdoor Air Pollution
◎ Construction
◎ Vehicular emissions
◎ Agricultural practices including crop
burning
◎ Tobacco smoke
◎ Trash burning
◎ Power plant emissions
◎ Fuel used in factories, generators,
etc.
◎ Building materials
◎ Marine/sea salt

9. Air Quality Index
Air Quality Index (AQI)#
(Pollution level
Possible Health Consequences General
Population
Low risk
Vulnerable
Population
Advice for
Satisfactory (51-
100)
Moderate
(101-200)
Poor (201-
300)
Very Poor
(301-400)
Severe
(401-500)
Good
(0-50)
No special
precautions
No special
precautions
May cause
• minor breathing discomfort in vulnerable
population*
May cause
• breathing or other health discomfort in vulnerable
population*
May cause
• breathing discomfort in health people on prolonged exposure
breathing or other health discomfort in vulnerable
population* on short exposure
May cause
• respiratory illness in healthy people on prolonged
exposure
• pronounced respiratory or other illnesses in vulnerable
population* on short exposure
May cause
• respiratory illness in healthy people on prolonged
exposure
• serious respiratory or other illnesses in vulnerable
population* on short exposure
No special
precautions
Do less prolonged or
strenuous outdoor physical
exertion
Do less prolonged or
strenuous outdoor
physical exertion
Avoid outdoor physical
activities, especially
during morning and late
evening hours
Avoid outdoor physical
activities
Avoid outdoor physical
activities
Avoid outdoor physical
exertion
Remain indoors and
keep activity levels low
Remain indoors and keep
activity levels low
Avoid prolonged or
strenuous outdoor physical
exertion
Source: Central Pollution Control Board
Check Website/App for Central Pollution Control
Board (CPCB):
(https://app.cpcbccr.com/AQI_India/) or System
of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And
Research (System of Air Quality and Weather
Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), Ministry of
Earth Sciences (MoES), Govt. of India:
AQI Monitor

10. Air Quality Index
Green: GO: Follow advisory for daily activities
• Plan your day and try to follow the advisory for permissible
activities according to the AQI category
Orange: PAUSE: Check the health risks
• Find out the health advisory you need to follow for the day in order
to minimize your exposure and reduce chances of falling ill. If you
are vulnerable to health effects of air pollution, recognise the risks
and take precautionary measures to protect yourself
Red: STOP: Check the AQI for the day and are
• Check the AQI of the day for your area and city for the day from the
recommended official GoI websites
• You can download the apps or visit the websites for Central Pollution
Control Board (CPCB): (https://app.cpcbccr.com/AQI_India/) or System of
Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (System of Air Quality
and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), Ministry of Earth Sciences
(MoES),
• Govt. of India: (http://safar.tropmet.res.in/). In case of lack of
availability of internet/smartphone services, you can also refer to the
news
• Before planning any activities for the day or leaving the house, identify
the air quality category to see how severely polluted the air is on that day
Average AQI in Delhi in
last 5 years
2022 209
2021 213
2020 181
2019 218
2018 243

11. Effect on Child Health
◎ Exposure to air pollution before birth can affect
development of lungs and harm lung function in
babies inside the mother’s womb
◎ Pollutants like particulate matter and nitrogen
dioxide are associated with pneumonia and other
respiratory infections in young children
◎ Outdoor air pollutants
and indoor air pollutants from using unclean
cooking
fuels worsen the state of children who either
already have asthma or are developing asthma.
◎ Respiratory symptoms, lung function and
hypertension in children between 4-17 years
of age are far worse for those children residing
in more polluted area
Respiratory
Effects
◎ A disease of ears where the air-filled
between air drums gets infected and
inflamed.
◎ Both outdoor and indoor air pollution
are associated with this condition
◎ Exposure to second-hand tobacco
smoke can also increase risk
◎ Short-Term: Ear pain and fever
◎ Long-Term: Recurrent otitis media can
lead to hearing loss and difficulties in
learning and communication
Otitis
Media
◎ High levels of air pollution are known to
affect cognitive and intellectual ability
among children
◎ Children living in socio-economically
deprived areas with higher level of air
pollution, face more chances of
intellectual disability
◎ Even short-term exposure to air
pollution could worsen psychiatric
disorders among children
◎ Longer exposure may affect cognitive
development & result in attention
deficit, autism, etc.
◎ Air pollution also indirectly impacts
cognitive development by means of
stunting and under-weight
Neuro
Development
Basically the whole
body system gets
effected.

12. Facts We should All know
Air in the NCT of Delhi is so polluted that 1 in every
3 children has an impaired lung.
Lower respiratory tract infection associated with
exposure to air pollution is the largest killer of
children.
India loses 1 child every 3 minutes dur to air
pollution.
Not only in India but also globally, one in every 6
child dies out of air pollution.
In an year
approximately,
Ambient &
Household Air
Pollution causes –
• 5,43,000 deaths in
children under 5
years
• 52,000 deaths in
children aged 5-15
years

13. Solutions
Reduce agricultural
waste incineration,
forest fires and certain
agro forestry activities.
Provide universal access
to clean, affordable fuels,
and technologies for
cooking, heating and
lighting.
Build safe and affordable
public transport System
along with cycle and
pedestrian lanes.
Improve, domestic,
industry and
municipal waste
management.
Make greener and
sustainable
buildings which are
energy efficient.
Invest in energy
efficient power
generators.

14. • Acid Rain which is a direct result of air pollution has the following affect on plants –
• Reduces the number of accessible soil nutrients
• Damages the root and shoot systems
• Stunts growth
• Excessive Nitrogen in Troposphere creates -
• Shifts in plant and animal species
• A rise in pest and disease outbreak
• Disturbance of ecosystem processes such as nutrient cycle and fire frequency

15. 1. Adopt an environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible lifestyle
2. Plant a garden or trees
3. Turn Off Lights When Not in Use
4. Avoid Plastic Bags as its burning leads to air pollution
5. Make use of Solar Energy
6. Always Use Recyclable Products
7. No smoking
8. Drive awareness among communities
9. Adopt greener fuels that have lower emissions like solar, electric etc.
10. Carpooling and using public transportation whenever possible
11. Monitoring the air quality
12. Wearing perfect fitted N-95 air quality masks on bad air days
13. Keep your vehicles in check- Exhaust Emission Index
Lets do this at our level

16. Doable Actions
◎ Check AQI status before stepping out
◎ Do not go out to play if the air quality lies anywhere on the
scale from poor to severe
◎ Use a mask whenever air quality is poor. N-95 and N99 are
prescribed.
◎ Plant trees in your home and school premises.
◎ Remember to practice pranayama daily. Deep breathing
exercises during bad AQI may cause harm by inhaling the
pollutants.
◎ Eat healthy and nutritious food to build a strong immunity
system.
Reducing Exposure
◎ Use car pool and public transport to reduce carbon
emissions.
◎ Encourage your friends and family to use public transport.
◎ Do not waste electricity or water as water purification and
electricity generation causes consumption of fossil fuels.
◎ Reduce, reuse and recycle to reduce production of items.
◎ Do not pollute the environment by burning crackers, waste,
leaves, wood etc.
◎ Adopt an environmentally friendly and ecologically
responsible lifestyle
◎ Make use of Solar Energy
◎ Keep your vehicles in check- Exhaust Emission Index
Reducing Pollution

17. ECO-CHAMPIONS PROJECT
Enabling Thought & Action among Youth of Delhi for better Air Quality
Thank You