Mumbai and Maharashtra have seen a slower reduction in air pollution compared with other cities and states in the country over thepast five years, an analysis of 2017-2022 data on the annual average carcinogenic particulate matter (PM) 2.5 levels shows. According to the analysis, PM 2.5 concentration levels in rural Maharashtra decreased only by 9.5% from 2017 to 2022. In the state's urban areas, including Mumbai, they dipped by 7.7% in the same period. PM 2.5 affects the lungs and the respiratory system.