The level of Particulate Matter 10 (PM10) caused by biomas burning in Delhi’s air was recorded as “moderate” in the national air quality index on Monday but PM2.5, caused by the vehicular pollution still continues to be very “very poor”.
According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), Ministry of Earth Science, the pollution forecast for pollutant PM10 is fair for forthcoming days of the week.
The metrological sensors of Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) have also shown level of PM2.5 three times more than the prescribed standards (60 µgm-3) in the six places in the national Capital.
Experts in city say that besides changing wind directions, ban on biomass in National Capital Region (NCR) has resulted in reducing the level of PM10 in city air.
Gopal Krishna, an Ecologist with the Anti Toxic Watch Alliance (ATWA), said that size is not the factor which cause respiratory diseases in human but concentration of pollutant particle matters for the lung health of children and elderly people. “Yes, the level of PM10 has drooped in the city but beyond this, it is also true that there is no safer limit or prescribe standards of pollutants, exposure to PMs, even under the prescribed limits of IMD is also harmful,” said Krishna.
In the last week of 2015, level of PM10 forcast for next three days are 238.6, 234.6 and 241.27 (µgm-3.) observed, whereas PM2.5 level stood at 148.3, 152.8, 150.8 (µgm-3.) recorded at 6pm.
It may be noted that after Christmas, level of pollutants has dropped considerably. National Air Quality stations had shown PM10 level above 400 µgm-3 in initial days of December, however, in November, it was idle at 670 µgm-3.
Moreover, particularly, in Anad Vihar area, the concentration of PM10 was crossed over 1,000 µgm-3 while prescribed standards for this pollutant particle is 100 µgm-3, set by IMD. Air quality since a month at IGI airport and RK Puram area also observed moderate as both PMs (10, 2.5) was tipped off fine according to real time ambient air data of central pollution control committee (CPCB).