The importance of including carcinogenic benzene in real-time ambient air quality data in Delhi

The 2014 Environmental Performance Index ranked India 174 out of 178 countries in air quality [1]. With such high levels of air pollution, public health monitoring and surveillance systems have become indispensable. India has been taking initiatives to monitor air pollutants like PM2.5, PM10, O
₃
, NO
₂
, SO
₂
and CO [2]. However, air pollutants like benzene, lead, ammonia, dioxins and furans that are hazardous to health still remain untracked. In this paper, we present the relevance of tracking benzene based on its abundance in the Indian capital which is the world's second most populous city as per UN report of 2014 [3] and its harmful impact on human health. We then identify challenges in monitoring it and discuss possible implementation solutions. A 2010 report by WHO highlights the need to study benzene concentration in air by proclaiming that “benzene is carcinogenic to humans and no safe level of exposure can be recommended” [4].