Mumbaikars swap morning walks for evening strolls as air quality dips

People are choosing to walk in the evening at Priyadarshini Park. Pics/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

The poor air quality of the city is affecting residents' lives in more ways than one - even down to their exercise routines.

Morning walks are falling out of favour, and people are choosing to walk in the evening. The Maharashtra health department had issued a health advisory in November 2023 asking morning and late-evening walkers and joggers to avoid outdoor physical activity during hours when the Air Quality Index (AQI) typically deteriorates, which is early morning and late during the night (after dinner).

While the advisory made a brief ripple back then, its effects are now becoming more evident, with a growing number of fitness enthusiasts rethinking their routines. "I have seen a noticeable shift," says Dr Lancelot Pinto, consultant pulmonologist and epidemiologist at PD Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre, who has seen a clear shift in behaviour among his patients. "More patients, especially senior citizens, those with existing respiratory issues, and even younger runners are asking about the safest time to walk or jog," he said.

Jiya Shah at Priyadarshini Park

"Early evening is now being recommended more frequently, as AQI levels tend to stabilise by then. But the broader issue is the state of the environment in the city. Everything in the city currently is dug up, from Metro construction to road repairs, and when you add vehicular emissions into the mix, it naturally results in poor air quality," he added.

Dr Pinto points out that while early morning may seem ideal due to lighter traffic, many of his patients are actively avoiding those hours due to bad AQI levels. "Most of the people I see in the clinic aren't healthy individuals, they come with underlying lung and respiratory issues or comorbidities, and for them, the risk is very real. They are concerned, and rightly so. In a city like Mumbai, under current environmental conditions, encouraging outdoor physical activity without considering air quality becomes problematic."

According to AQI data from Mumbai's SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research), pollution levels spike during the early morning hours, peaking around 6.30-8 am, a time generally preferred by morning walkers. Emissions from vehicles, industrial activity, and overnight atmospheric conditions cause a buildup of pollutants that don't disperse until later in the day.

Health experts weigh in

Pulmonologists warn that prolonged exposure to poor air quality, especially during vigorous activity when the breathing rate increases, can aggravate respiratory issues. Dr Pinto further added: "Runners and walkers are increasingly reporting discomfort or feeling unsafe during early mornings or late evenings. Interestingly, the air tends to be relatively better during midday or early afternoon. For those who have access to green spaces or gardens near their homes or within or around office complexes, that may be a better time to step out for some movement."

Sunil Dahiya, Dr Gufran Beig, Dr Lancelot Pinto and Renuka Pinto

Infectious diseases specialist Dr Vasant Nagwekar says,"A significant level of pollutants are released in the air due to vehicular emissions, especially in the urban areas, due to heavy traffic during the morning hours. But as the day goes by, atmospheric mixing of various gases, sunlight and wind flow push these pollutants at higher levels than the breathing levels. On the other hand, at night pollutants settle at surface levels as a result of reduced wind speeds. This leads to saturation of dust particles on the ground level till the sun rises and burns them. Thus, nowadays we advise people to go on walks only after complete sunrise or in the evening, but not during early morning or late-night hours."

Walkers speak out

Runners too are adapting. "Earlier, the Marine Drive promenade would be buzzing by 5.30-6 am," says Naitik Sharma, a member of a South Mumbai running group. "Now, the group meets around 5 pm. The energy is different, but it's better than breathing in toxic air," Sharma says.

Renuka Pinto, 47, says, "I was an avid morning walker but I had to stop as I developed a severe bronchitis issue because of the increasing dust and air pollution in our area [Shivaji Park]. My doctor's first advice was to stop morning walks. He suggested walking either after 10 am or in the evening, instead. As I am a working woman, I prefer going in the evening."

Another Shivaji Park walker, Hriday Jadhav, 52, says, "I have observed that the dust levels in our area are comparatively less during late evening when offices shut. During the day there is heavy vehicular movement, too. Even if we come at 7 am, the roads are packed as there are many offices in the Lower Parel area and people pass through Prabhadevi to reach their workplaces. However, when we come around 7:30-8 pm, the traffic reduces and thus smoke levels go down which makes it easier to breathe when we walk."

"For many years morning walk was something that encouraged me to wake up early," says Dynaneshwar Shelke, 40. "But today's increased pollution levels have made that impossible. There is thick haze and acrid smell from the dumping yard, even though it is not near my home. There are many civic construction works along with private constructions going on in our area. Most of the civic works are carried out at night which leads to heavy pollution during the night till early morning. I realised this only when morning walks led to respiratory problems."

Speaking to Sunday mid-day, Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst at EnviroCatalysts, says, "It is true that morning walks are gradually falling out of favour with many people. Particularly during the winter months, early mornings are actually the worst time to go for a walk not just because of poor AQI but due to higher toxicity levels in the air. While mornings during summer are relatively better, they're still not ideal. In fact, summer mornings can have air quality that is only slightly better or sometimes similar to the evenings. Based on current data and trends, the cleanest time of the day, in terms of air quality, is usually between 2 pm and 4 pm. Unfortunately, that's also the time when most people are at work or indoors."

Dahiya says this necessitates a change in work culture perception. "It's high time employers and organisations start thinking about integrating walking spaces, especially green corridors, within and around office complexes. A work culture that promotes short walks, especially post-lunch, could be extremely beneficial for employees' health and well-being," he says.

Dahiya adds, "Unfortunately, people often don't realise the impact of poor air quality until it begins to affect their health. And there's a misconception that air quality is only bad only during winters and automatically improves in summer. That's not necessarily true. What people need to start doing, as is already common practice in many countries abroad is to check the real-time AQI before stepping out for walks, runs, or any outdoor physical activity."

Holistic approach is needed

However, it's not just an individual's responsibility, says Dahiya. "City administrations and pollution control boards must take a more proactive role in issuing advisories and health alerts, not just in winter, but year-round. Communication with the public has to improve. Real-time updates should be accessible through mobile apps, websites, and even physical displays like the pollution control board's digital boards across the city," he says.

"India is a diverse country, and we simply cannot apply a one-size-fits-all model - what applies to Delhi may not apply to Mumbai, and vice versa. But what's universal is the need for timely, reliable AQI information so people can make informed decisions about their daily routines," Dahiya emphasises. "Yes, this is a major concern. Early morning walks, which were traditionally considered healthy, are no longer advisable in a city like Mumbai. The air toxicity levels during the early hours have increased significantly.

Even if the AQI appears to be slightly better on some days, the chemical composition of pollutants especially PM 2.5 and PM10 is far more toxic in Mumbai compared to many other cities. Based on air quality patterns over the years now, the best time for outdoor activities and walks, in my view, now is between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Unfortunately, these are typical working hours, and for most of the year, the heat and humidity during this period make it uncomfortable for outdoor physical activity.

Dr Gufran Beig, Chair-Professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) and former project director of SAFAR, says that the city needs more green spaces. "Most of the gardens in the city are shut during the afternoon. Urban planners and the city administration must ensure that parks, gardens, and green patches are accessible to the public round the clock. This would give residents more flexibility to find healthier windows for outdoor activity without compromising on air quality or comfort," he says.

Meanwhile, Dr Sanjeev Mehta, pulmonologist at Lilavati Hospital in Bandra says, "If a person is constantly exposed to heavy pollution, he/she starts suffering from minor respiratory issues at the beginning which culminates into bigger problems such as bronchitis and asthma because the lungs become weak by pumping heavily to breathe in such pollution. However, if there is heavy traffic in some areas, mornings might actually be better. So, one should consult a doctor from their area and take a call accordingly."

Jiya Shah, 31, a regular at Priyadarshini Park, Napean Sea Road, says, "After delivering my baby, my doctors suggested that I go for evening walks instead of morning walks, as pollution levels are less." Another Priyadarshini Park walker, Nidhi Parate, 18, says, "As a child I have always been going for morning walks with my dad. But, for the last few years, mornings have started feeling quite stuffy. There is smog every day. So, I tried switching to evening hours. And it's been better than what I have observed."