OBJECTIVES: Air pollution is a major environmental risk factor and imposes a significant economic and health burden on countries, largely low-to-middle-income countries. Residents’ perceptions and concerns about air pollution are important to help establish policy changes and appropriate local interventions to mitigate the negative impact of poor air quality.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study used survey data (October 2023) on a random sample of residents living in Pune, Maharashtra, India (n=20). Participants’ perceptions and concerns on air pollution were collected and reported descriptively using questionnaires asking about their demographics, rating of air quality, major source of air pollution, measures used to potentially reduce air pollution, and potential impact of air pollution on their health/disease and productivity.

RESULTS: Most of the survey participants were greater than 60 years (n=11; 55%), predominantly male (n=16; 80%), married (n=14; 70%), and either homemakers or retired (n=10; 50%). Seventeen residents (85%) felt that the air quality was either average or bad and 9 residents (45%) reported air pollution to be high in summer. All the surveyed residents stated traffic emission to be the major source of air pollution. Majority of the surveyed residents perceived poor air quality to impact their productivity moderately or severely. Half of the residents (n=10) identified breathing difficulties as a potential impact of air pollution while lung cancer/asthma were also identified to be potentially exacerbated by 7 residents (35%).

CONCLUSIONS: This survey research in a small city in India illustrates that air pollution was perceived to be either moderate or bad, traffic emission to be the major contributor to poor air quality, and impact of poor air quality on respiratory health conditions. Further research is warranted to educate the residents on impact of poor air quality and implement appropriate interventions to reduce air pollution.