Air quality in Capital dips during Diwali celebrations
6 Nov 2013 4:45 AM IST
‘The concentration of poisonous gases like carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) increased sharply in four out of six air quality monitoring stations in the city, including those in Mandir Marg, Punjabi Bagh, Civil Lines and R K Puram,’ said A K Sinha, a senior scientist at DPCC. ‘Data from Anand Vihar is still being processed, while air quality at IGI airport was not significantly affected.’ he added.
As per the data, the maximum concentration of CO was found at Punjabi Bagh, which was at 6.8 microgram (mg) per cubic metre, as against the safety standard of 0.4 mg per cubic metre. Initially, the concentration of CO at Punjabi Bagh was at 4.3 units at 8.00 pm on Sunday. These levels rose steeply after more crackers were burst, thus adding to the air pollution levels. Similarly, the concentration of SO2 increased from 36 mg per cubic metre to 98.10 units and NO2 from 112 mg per cubic metre to 205 units till midnight. At R K Puram, the concentration of CO was recorded at 5.4 units and 5.5 units at Mandir Marg.
The maximum concentration of SO2 was recorded at Civil Lines, which increased from 65.39 units in the evening to 578.40 units at midnight, while maximum concentration of NO2 was recorded at Mandir Marg, which increased from 99.40 units in the evening to 313 units by midnight.
However, air pollution during this Diwali was at its lowest in the last five years, although noise pollution witnessed an upward trend, said the DPCC officers. Central Pollution Control Board’s real time continuous ambient noise monitoring at five locations – Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology (NSIT), Delhi College of Engineering (DCE) and Dilshad Gardens recorded an average of 58 decibels (A), 62 decibels (A), 52 decibels (A) and 56 decibels (A) respectively this year.
However, last year, the same locations recorded an average value of 56, 58, 50 and 49 decibels (A) respectively. The findings of the monitoring agency can be attributed to the bursting of noisy crackers, which resulted in an upward trend in decibel levels in the city from last year, added DPCC’s A K Sinha.
As per the data, the maximum concentration of CO was found at Punjabi Bagh, which was at 6.8 microgram (mg) per cubic metre, as against the safety standard of 0.4 mg per cubic metre. Initially, the concentration of CO at Punjabi Bagh was at 4.3 units at 8.00 pm on Sunday. These levels rose steeply after more crackers were burst, thus adding to the air pollution levels. Similarly, the concentration of SO2 increased from 36 mg per cubic metre to 98.10 units and NO2 from 112 mg per cubic metre to 205 units till midnight. At R K Puram, the concentration of CO was recorded at 5.4 units and 5.5 units at Mandir Marg.
The maximum concentration of SO2 was recorded at Civil Lines, which increased from 65.39 units in the evening to 578.40 units at midnight, while maximum concentration of NO2 was recorded at Mandir Marg, which increased from 99.40 units in the evening to 313 units by midnight.
However, air pollution during this Diwali was at its lowest in the last five years, although noise pollution witnessed an upward trend, said the DPCC officers. Central Pollution Control Board’s real time continuous ambient noise monitoring at five locations – Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology (NSIT), Delhi College of Engineering (DCE) and Dilshad Gardens recorded an average of 58 decibels (A), 62 decibels (A), 52 decibels (A) and 56 decibels (A) respectively this year.
However, last year, the same locations recorded an average value of 56, 58, 50 and 49 decibels (A) respectively. The findings of the monitoring agency can be attributed to the bursting of noisy crackers, which resulted in an upward trend in decibel levels in the city from last year, added DPCC’s A K Sinha.
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