An unusual trend in air quality at IGI airport area of the national Capital was observed on Wednesday with four times higher mass concentration of Particulate Matter (10). Notably, in 2015 IGI airport was the cleanest area of the city in terms of air pollution.
According to the previous year's pollution data of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), the mass concentrations of pollutant, including (Suspended Particulate Matter) SPM and other gaseous pollutants were measured low, however, this year, the pollution graph of IGI has gone up.
The real time air data of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) meters have recorded level of Benzene at 12.90 mg/m3 which was two times higher than the prescribed standards of Indian Metrological Standards (IMD).
Considering the data base of National Air quality meters, primary and secondary both pollutants was measured higher. levels of Mercury, Nitrogen Dioxide, Ozone and Toluene were measured abnormally higher while in the year 2015, all levels were under the safer limits.
Reacting on the matter of higher pollution levels at International Airport, Gopal Krishna, environmentalist, Anti-Toxic Watch Alliance (ATWA) said aviation pollution can be the reason but one has to minutely observe about the causes behind such higher levels of pollutants.
"The situation is alarming. like cars, the fumes of aircrafts contain a variety of air pollutants including sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. While landing or taking off mode, the airplanes exhaust is on higher side," said Krishna.
"But with the joint efforts, the Air Traffic Control (ATC), DPCC and CPCB can do accumulative study on pollution exhausts by aircrafts, moreover , the numbers of vehicular movement should also be considered. In the case of IGI, wind direction is also an important factor," he further added.