While the Delhi Government has decided to install air purifier in open spaces at selected intersections, the scientists with the National Ambient Air Quality Index (NAAQI) said that the institutions should invest in providing lPG connections to prevent biomass and coal burning in and around the national Capital.
The pollution-level in the city was dangerously high on the night of Diwali. Three days have passed since then but there has been no let up in the noxious levels of Suspended Particulate Matters (SPM). All the ambient air quality meters of Delhi pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Central Pollution Control Committee (CPCB), US Embassy and SAFAR, unit of Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) marked “Dark Red” to the status of Delhi air quality.
At the time when lung specialists have raised the red flag over the highly polluted air quality in the city, the environment experts said that the agencies (DPCC, CPCB & MoES) should provide lPG connections to the people who rely on coal and dry wood burning for cooking purpose.
Gopal Krishna, Environmentalist (ATWA) said that Air purifiers can filter air within restricted environment instance - homes and offices. The nature of outdoor air quality is entirely different because pollution levels are not idle in nature.
“Pollution during winters requires some aggressive steps. Besides odd-even car rationing scheme, chullas in slums must be replaced with safe and clean lPG connection,” added Krishna.
Meanwhile, the assessment of Ambient Air Quality was undertaken at six locations - RK Puram, Mandir Marg, Punjabi Bagh, Civil lines, Anand Vihar and IGI Airport. Noise levels at these locations were also monitored, except for the IGI Airport.
As per the review, the carbon monoxide (CO) levels on Diwali ranged from 2.0 µg/m³to 4.2 µg/m³ (microgram/cubic metre) in comparison with 1.1 µg/m³ to 4.0 µg/m³ during last year's Diwali. Particulate Matter 10 or PM10 levels ranged from 448 µg/m3 to 939 µg/m3, a steep increase from last Diwali's 296 µg/m3 to 778µg/m3.
PM 10 is called so because of its diameter which is 10 micrometre or less. To put it in perspective, a human hair is 100 micrometre wide. Another harmful pollutant, PM 2.5, ranged from 180 to 440 µg/m3. These are fine particles which emanate from automobiles, burning of wood, and construction material. They are responsible for making the atmosphere hazy marked by low visibility.
PM 2.5 is one of the most harmful pollutants and can easily percolate and get stuck in lungs, causing respiratory problems, sneezing, coughing and shortness of breath. The safe level for PM10 is under 100 microgram/cubic metre and PM 2.5 is under 60 microgram/cubic metre, as per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).