The Impact of Over-Urbanization on Air Quality in Chennai City: A Sociological Study

Abstract

Over-urbanization is a process occurred while the complex of activities in various sectors gradually increasing, in which a country's urban population is considerably larger than expected on the basis of that country's level of economic development. The present study results the relationship between the levels of urbanization and the percentage of air quality in selected area of Chennai city. The study tries to assess the degradation of air quality of Chennai city through the lens of various sectors such as Socio-economic, health and cultural perspectives and it carries the same as main purpose of the present study. The Questions were featured based on the level of air quality from the data collected by using secondary sources and evaluating the fundamental factors of Overurbanization, as a result the study assess the consequences of Socio- economic, cultural and health related issues by employing primary data collected in the selected area of Chennai city.
A descriptive research method comprising primary and secondary data collection with appropriate tools have been engaged. By highlighting main findings such as even though air pollution is a global problem, it proportionately affects those living in developing nations and particularly the most vulnerable group namely women, children and the elderly. As per secondary data, the Residential pollution due to the processes of cooking and heating, using biomass, generating electricity from fossil fuels and transport are few remarkable humanmade sources of fine particles in Chennai city. The deadliest illnesses linked to PM2.5 air pollution results stroke, heart disease, lung disease, lower respiratory diseases (such as pneumonia) and the cancer. High levels of fine particles are also contributed to illnesses, like diabetes, poor cognition etc. There are 20 percent of newborn deaths globally attributed by air pollution. The Government actions on air quality are steadily growing but implementation and capacity gaps hinder the progress towards better results. The study relates the aspects of Over-Urbanization, Air quality of Chennai city, Socio-economic and health issues of study area.