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Air pollution way above permissible limits this Diwali
Average RSPM levels in bandra were 358 ug/M3 on october 26, Which is three times the permissible limit
Air pollution way above permissible limits this Diwali
Average RSPM levels in bandra were 358 ug/M3 on october 26, Which is three times the permissible limit
Diwali may have been quieter this year, but toxic fumes from firecrackers pushed air pollution levels in the city way above the permissible limits on all three days of the festival.
According to initial data obtained from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) for the Ambient Air Quality monitoring station at Bandra, the average respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) levels in the area on October 26 were 358 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3). This is more than three times the permissible limit of 100 µg/m3. In fact, this is the second highest value of RSPM recorded on Lakshmi pooja in Bandra from 2007 to 2011.
As the festivities continued, the average RSPM levels in the area increased to 364 µg/m3 on October 27, but fell to 251 µg/m3 on October 28. The levels of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) increased marginally with the levels recorded as 117 µg/m3 on October 26, 121 µg/m3 on October 27 and 131 µg/m3 on October 29. These are above the permissible limit of 80 µg/m3, according to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) values were well within permissible limits on all days of the festival, only increasing to a maximum of 30 µg/m3 on October 29 as opposed to its permissible limit of 80 µg/m3.
The pre-Diwali pollutant levels were well within the limit with NOx being 34 µg/m3 and RSPM being 72 µg/m3 on October 16. However, the values started gradually increasing to reach a peak of 131 and 364 respectively. In fact, RSPM levels were high even after the festival, at 199 µg/m3 and 164 µg/m3 on October 29 and October 30 respectively.
These toxins are responsible for various health hazards. These gases are irritants and cause inflammation of the mucous membrane, which lines the nasal tract. They mostly act on lungs and affect respiratory functions. In asthamatic patients, they may trigger an attack, said Dr Renuka Bradoo, head of ENT department, Sion Hospital.
However, this data is only an indication of city levels as it is from one station and more data is expected in the coming days, said MPCB officials.
The figures for the Sion station are still to come. MPCB conducted continuous ambient air monitoring at only these two locations in the city this year as its Mulund station is not functional since last year.