Study Shows That Gig Economy Workers In India Encounter Severe Air Pollution And Carcinogenic Substances

A recent investigation has unveiled that food delivery personnel, while maneuvering their two-wheelers, are inhaling air heavily laden with elevated concentrations of particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOC), including benzene—an acknowledged carcinogen. This study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Atmospheric Pollution Research, scrutinized a sample group of 30 delivery workers in Ghaziabad during December 2020. This particular month marked a peak period of air pollution in the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), where Ghaziabad is situated. Notably, Ghaziabad ranked as the second most polluted city globally in 2021 and subsequently held the 11th position in 2022, according to the World Air Quality Report by IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company.

In the context of the study, it was unveiled that these delivery riders were exposed to staggering levels of particulate matter—516, 180, and 113 micrograms per cubic meter of air for PM10, PM2.5, and PM1, respectively—while carrying out their deliveries. These levels considerably exceeded the standards established by both international and domestic regulatory bodies. To elaborate, the World Health Organization's 2021 air quality guidelines established a threshold of 45 micrograms per cubic meter for PM10 and 15 micrograms per cubic meter for PM2.5. Correspondingly, the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) put forth by the Central Pollution Control Board recommended limits of 100 micrograms per cubic meter for PM10 and 60 micrograms per cubic meter (or even lower) for PM2.5.

Examining 54 concentrations of volatile organic compounds, the study spotlighted toluene as the most prevalent (at 89 micrograms per cubic meter with a standard deviation of 51), followed by benzene (at 19 micrograms per cubic meter with a standard deviation of 11). Significantly, the benzene levels exceeded the levels endorsed by NAAQS, which stand at 5 micrograms per cubic meter. Sekar, a researcher, emphasized that benzene holds the distinction of being classified as a carcinogenic compound by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Notably, while benzene is included in NAAQS, it does not undergo regular monitoring, as noted by Sekar during discussions with Mongabay-India.