Air quality levels fall, noise levels rise on Diwali night in city

HYDERABAD: The city witnessed a drastic fall in air quality levels on Diwali night, a notch worse than last year. Compared to a normal day when the level of common pollutant Particulate Matter 2.5 microns (PM2.5) is around 53 µg/m³, Diwali night recorded a whopping 112. This is much higher compared to the 91 µg/m³ recorded the previous year. 

PM 2.5 are highly dangerous fine pollutants that get deposited deep in the respiratory tract causing dieases like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and even cancer. According to pollution control board, PM 2.5 level over 60 is dangerous for human health. 
The level of particulate matter less than 10 microns in size also almost doubled, from 87 recorded on a normal day, to 158 on Diwali night. The same was recorded at 146 last year. Tolerable levels of PM 10 is 100 µg/m³. 

Sulphur Dioxide levels on Diwali spiked to 6.1 compared to 4.4 ug/m3 on a normal day. In 2016, it almost doubled from 4.7 ug/m3 on a normal day to 8.8 ug/m3 on Diwali. Similarly, Oxides of Nitrogen increased from 24.8 ug/m3 on a normal day to 30.0 ug/m3 on Diwali this year, while in 2016, it was 28.6 ug/m3 on a normal day and 32.0 ug/m3 on Diwali.  

Noise levels also registered an alarming increase. Between 10 pm and 6 am on Diwali, the city recorded an average 71 dB Leq(Decibel equivalent continuous sound levels) against a normal of 64 dB Leq. Last year, city had recorded 65 dB Leq. Noise levels in the day did not see much difference. 

Paradise circle topped the noise charts, recording 70 dB Leq. Among the residential areas, Jubilee Hills saw a significant rise from 57dB to 73 dB followed by Tarnaka, from 50dB to 66 dB on Diwali night. 
The Telangana State Pollution Control Board (PCB) studied the air quality this year after directions were issued by the Central PCB to monitor the levels before and after Diwali. The pre-Diwali study was conducted on October 12.

40 kids among 50 hurt in firecracker mishaps
Hyderabad: As many as 50 persons were admitted to Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital  here with various kinds of eye injuries during Diwali celebrations on Thursday night. At least 40 of them were children aged between six and 12 years. Six children were operated upon and are under observation.  Doctors are yet to determine the magnitude of the injuries and whether their vision would be restored. While those who underwent surgery had perforated injuries, the others have been diagnosed with chemical injuries, and treatment is in progress, doctors at the hospital said. Among the injured is an 18-year-old engineering student from Ibrahimpatnam who sufffered serious injuries.