Beyond the Open Crop Residue Burn: Comprehensive Assessment of Fine Aerosol Emissions and Health Burden from Indian Agriculture

ROSHAN KUMAR SINGH, Seema Prajapati, Indra Mohan Nigam, Tarun Gupta, Ran Zhao, University of Alberta

     Abstract Number: 290
     Working Group: Chemicals of Emerging Concern in Indoor and Outdoor Aerosol: Sources, Vectors, Reactivity, and Impacts

Abstract
India is the second-largest producer of crop residues globally, and crop residue burning, especially over the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP), is a well-known contributor to severe air pollution episodes. While significant attention has been given to understanding the physiochemical characteristics, health effects, and mitigation of emissions from residue burning, other agricultural practices also contribute substantially to aerosol emissions. Activities such as tillage, planting, fertilizer application, harvesting, and grain handling are overlooked sources of fine aerosol (PM2.5). For instance, tillage may release fine soil particles particularly in the alluvium-rich IGP region and verity of bioaerosols. Fertilizer use results in significant NH3 volatilization, contributing to secondary inorganic aerosol formation, while harvesting can re-emit adsorbed pollutants from plant surfaces. This study, for the first time, presents a comprehensive inventory of PM2.5 emissions from six key agricultural activities: tillage, planting, fertilizer application, harvesting, crop residue burning, and grain handling. We estimate a total emission of 1.1 Tg PM2.5 in 2021 from agriculture in India, spanning food grains, oilseeds, vegetables, cash crops, and spices. Notably, this accounts for approximately 16% of India’s total PM2.5 emissions that year. Using an indirect health impact assessment approach, PM2.5 emissions attribute approximately 4 million Disability-Adjusted Life Years and 0.13 million deaths to these emissions in 2021. Projections suggest this burden may rise to 1.6 Tg by 2051 without intervention. The findings not only fill a key gap in emission inventories but also equip atmospheric modelers with more accurate data to enhance air quality simulations. For policymakers, this study provides clear evidence to guide regulatory reforms, clean technology interventions, and rural outreach programs. As India advances toward its 2047 goal of becoming a developed nation, sustainable agriculture must be central to the country’s environmental and health strategy.