Respiratory suspended particle in the city’s air is way above the permissible level. Ambient air quality data of Chandigarh suggest that despite all the efforts, air quality is still a matter of concern in the City Beautiful especially the steady rise of mono-nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the city’s air since the year 2000 is a major threat.
Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee has divided the city in five zones Sector 17, Punjab Engineering College, Industrial Area, Government College for Girls Sector 42, and Kaimbwala village to measure the air quality. The data collected over a period of time suggest that RSPM level in all these zones are well above the permissible limits and NOx levels are going up steadily in all the five zones.
NOx is commonly used to denote mono-nitrogen oxides NO (nitric oxide) and NO2 (nitrogen dioxide). These gases are released during combustion, especially at high temperatures, from the engine of a motor-vehicle. The emission of NOx is quite significant in the areas which have high motor-vehicle density.
A consolidated ambient air quality data from 1993-2013, prepared by the committee reveals a shocking fact that mono-nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the city’s air is steadily going up since the year 2000. However, these levels are still below the permissible limit in all the five zones but the upward trend is a matter of concern.
The permissible limit of NOx in the year 2000 was 60 microgram per cubic meter of air. After the constant effort by the government agencies and civil society groups, which made air pollution an important matter of concern, the revised permissible limit of NOx in the air was brought down to 40 mg per cubic meter of air.
According to the data, Industrial-Area of Chandigarh which is one of the most polluted zones in the city had 11 mg of NOx per cubic meter of air in the year 2000 when the permissible limit was 60 mg. In 2013 NOx level has increased to 35 mg in the industrial area when the permissible limit is 40 mg. This clearly depicts that the steady rise in NOx might soon shoot above the permissible level. Ravinder Khailwal, Assistant Professor Department of Community Medicine PGI said, “This is really a dangerous trend because NOx when exposed to ideal chemical environment can form nitric acid vapor and related particles. These particles can penetrate into the respiratory system and can damage the lung, causing premature death in extreme cases.”
According to the World Health Organization around 7 million deaths are annually caused due to air pollution. To top this inhalation of particles formed by NOx can worsen respiratory diseases, such as emphysema or bronchitis and aggravate heart disease.
Time and again, the main contributory factors to air pollution have been attributed to old vehicles and diesel vehicles with high emissions. However, during the course of study conducted by Dr Khailwal, on the air quality of New Delhi after the implementation of CNG as fuel in Public Transport it was found that despite the decrease of other air pollutants, increase in NOx concentration was noticed.
It is alarming finding and government should put check and measures on giving out new permits to auto rickshaws, instead more environmental friendly transportation should be promoted and the cities should be planned in a way to accommodate more and more non motorized-vehicles, added Dr Khailwal.
Chandigarh Pollution Board secretary P J S Dadwal said, “The committee is trying its best to bring down air pollution level, but even the general public should play their part. The only way to bring pollution level down is to make the people aware about use of public transport.”