The air in the national Capital is laden with deadly pollutants that can have adverse impact on the health of the denizens.
National Ambient Air Quality Index (NAAQI) recorded “awful” levels of pollutants in Capital's air on Wednesday. With average concentration of Particulate Matter (10) 522 µg/m3, the deteriorating air has surpassed previous years' records. Air monitoring stations of DPCC and CPCB have measured the levels at 1468 µg/m3 in Anand Vihar area while in RK Puram the concentration of pollutants was 999 µg/m3.
Moreover, the advisory status of Air Quality Index is “severe” for next three days.
Post-Diwali, the toxicity level has touched a new high. Considering the database of US embassy and SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research), Ministry of Earth Sciences, the mass concentration of PM 2.5 and PM 10 has been measured many times higher than the prescribed standards.
According to environmentalists, the freak weather pattern, wind directions and Relative Humidity (RH) in city atmosphere, the Suspended Particulate Matters (SPMs) are not settled down. “On Tuesday the wind speed had increased to two km per hour, which helped in the dispersion of pollutants to some extent. However, the wind speed is below 1 kmph on Wednesday. Wind flowing from Haryana and Punjab has stopped completely. In addition, there is considerable drop in temperature and increase in humidity. All these factors have blocked dispersal of pollutants,” said Neha Parkhi, a researcher at SAFAR.
Importantly, pollution levels in Noida and Gurgaon were also measured very high. PM 2.5 in both the city was recorded at 550 µg/m3 and 420 µg/m3 respectively. Various locations across the National Capital Region showed PM2.5 and PM10 levels much above the safe limits. While PM2.5 levels ranged between 408 and over 500, PM10 levels were between 392 and over 500. Particulate Matter less than 10 micrometres in diameter (PM10) are so small that they can get into lungs, likely causing serious health problems. Particulate Matter less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter (PM2.5) are more refined particles produced by burning fuels.
While the concentration of sulphur dioxide was at satisfactory level, nitrogen dioxide was still in the poor category on Monday as per the monitoring stations of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).