Reducing Coal Plant Emissions Could Prevent Over 1.24 Lakh Deaths Annually in India, IIT Delhi Study Finds

A new study by researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi has found that India could prevent more than 1.24 lakh deaths every year if sulphur dioxide (SO₂) emissions from coal-fired power plants are fully controlled.

The study, published this week in the scientific journal Nature, is being seen as one of the most detailed assessments so far of how emissions from coal-based thermal power plants affect air quality and public health across the country.

Researchers said sulphur dioxide released from coal-fired power plants not only increases SO₂ pollution in the atmosphere but also contributes significantly to the formation of fine particulate matter, or PM2.5 — one of the most dangerous forms of air pollution linked to serious heart and lung diseases.

According to the findings, reducing SO₂ emissions from coal-fired plants could lower annual PM2.5 exposure levels by 0.3 to 12 micrograms per cubic metre in different states.

Ambient SO₂ levels could also decline by 0.1 to 13.6 parts per billion, depending on the region.

The researchers explained that sulphur dioxide released from thermal power plants reacts chemically in the atmosphere to form secondary inorganic aerosols such as sulphates, nitrates and ammonium particles.

These pollutants eventually become part of PM2.5 pollution, which has long been associated with respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular disease and premature deaths.

Speaking about the study, Debajit Sarkar, one of the co-authors, said multiple earlier studies had already identified the energy sector as one of the biggest contributors to air pollution in India.

He noted that, along with household pollution, thermal power plants remain among the leading sources of harmful emissions, prompting researchers to examine their exact contribution in greater detail.

According to Sarkar, the larger objective of the study was to provide state-specific estimates of pollution levels so policymakers could design more targeted environmental and public health measures.

To conduct the research, the team used advanced air pollution models along with satellite-based data tracking sulphur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants across India.

The researchers also relied on the “Global Burden of Disease” framework, an internationally recognised system used to estimate the health impact of diseases across regions, age groups and populations.

Using this model, they calculated the number of deaths that could potentially be prevented if air pollution linked to thermal power plant emissions was reduced.

The study further analysed how air pollution affects different sections of society by combining pollution exposure data with information from the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5), conducted between 2019 and 2021.

By mapping air quality data with demographic information, researchers attempted to understand how the benefits of cleaner air would vary across gender, caste and income groups.

The findings come at a time when India continues to grapple with severe air pollution in several cities and states, particularly during the winter months, with growing concerns over its long-term impact on public health and life expectancy.

Environmental experts say the study strengthens the case for stricter emission controls at coal-fired power plants and faster adoption of cleaner energy alternatives to reduce the country’s pollution burden.