Record Air Pollution Levels – Here’s How Indians Are Fighting It With Drones, Stoves & Ink!

The recently released ‘State of Global Air 2017’ report states that India’s air now rivals that of China in being the world’s deadliest, and that the two nations were responsible for more than half of the 4.2 million premature deaths globally in 2015 due to increased exposure to fine particulate matter (PM).

The report said that almost 1.1 million people died in India in 2015 because of air pollution. It also said that India has recorded a nearly 50% increase in premature deaths linked to fine airborne particles known as PM2.5 between 1990 and 2015.

The report, which was released by Health Effects Institute, a US-based global research institute, also says that air pollution is the fifth-highest cause of death among all health risks.

However, a few good Samaritans have taken it upon themselves to ensure that the air we breathe is clean.

1. Converting pollutants into ink!

Photo Source: Facebook

Ever thought you could draw using the toxic particles that pollute the air? Sounds unbelievable? Graviky Labs is doing exactly that by turning air pollution into inks. Their technology makes use of the carbon emissions (soot) from vehicles or chimneys much before it enters the atmosphere, which are then recycled and made into water-resistant ink used to draw and write.

You may also like: Need a Breath of Fresh Air? IIT Madras Has Developed Low Cost, Efficient Air Purifiers for You.

2. Low-smoke stoves

Photo Source: Facebook

According to the World Health Organisation, over 4 million people die prematurely from illness attributable to household air pollution from cooking with solid fuels. However, a group of students from Enactus Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, decided to combat the problem of indoor air pollution by making low-smoke stove products more accessible to women.

Under their initiative Project Aanch, the students zeroed-in on Bhati Mines — a rural community in Chatarpur, and did a thorough demographic study after which they adopted a low-smoke cook stove by Philips and modified it to solve local issues.

You may also like: IIT-Delhi Researchers Develop Tiny Nasal Device to Help Breathe Clean Air Even in Polluted Cities!

3. Air Pollution Monitoring Drones

Photo Source: Facebook

Using drones, which are primarily used for surveillance, for an environment-friendly cause, a group of students from Delhi have designed one that can help measure air purity. With Delhi earning the tag of being the most polluted city, Sanchit Mishra, Pranav Kalra, and Triambikey Joshi decided to do their bit for the environment and made their first prototype in 2015. They say their drone measures the chemical composition of the air it is flown into.

Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: [email protected], or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
NEW: Click here to get positive news on WhatsApp!

Found Value in This Story?Pay What You Can to Support Impactful Journalism

If you found our stories insightful, informative, or even just enjoyable, we invite you to consider making a voluntary payment to support the work we do at The Better India. Your contribution helps us continue producing quality content that educates, inspires, and drives positive change.

Choose one of the payment options below for your contribution-

₹201
₹501
₹1001

By paying for the stories you value, you directly contribute to sustaining our efforts focused on making a difference in the world. Together, let’s ensure that impactful stories continue to be told and shared, enriching lives and communities alike.

Thank you for your support. Here are some frequently asked questions you might find helpful to know why you are contributing?