A drop in pollution level was observed in the city air on Monday with the levels of particulate matters (PM) found remarkably lower compared to earlier part of the ongoing month.
Chirashree Ghosh , Senior Assistant Professor , Department of Delhi University, said, “High wind and convective atmospheric conditions are majorly responsible for dispersion of particulate matter.”
On Monday, the real-time air data on Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) showed PM 10 level at 168 µg/m3 in Capital’s Mandir Marg. The same was stagnant at 350 µg/m3 a week earlier. Also, PM 2.5 was just four micrograms cubic above the prescribed standards of Indian Metrological Department (IMD).
Not just the levels of PMs, the concentration of harmful gases like Benzene, Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Oxide was also recorded low on National Real time Air Quality Index (NRAQI).
While at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), the level of PM 10 was 1.05 µg/m3, which is negligible; and PM2.5 was 56.82 µg/m3. The levels of both PMs were under the prescribed limits which are 100 µg/m3 and 60 µg/m3 respectively.
PM levels at the city’s toxic zones were also observed well below the average on the real time air quality index of Central Pollution Board Committee (CPCB). The levels of PM 2.5 in Anad Vihar, Punjbai Bagh and in RK Puram area was recorded at 129 ,190 and 115(µg/m3) at 7 pm whereas PM 10 was 614, 381 and 374 respectively. Earlier this month, it had even crossed the 1150 µg/m3 mark at Anand Vihar.