Nagpur: While the contribution of crackers in spiking air pollution in the city was being debated, the latest figures released by Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) show that the city's air quality worsened particularly during the festive period.
The monitoring results, which are now available with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), clearly reflect that the air quality began to worsen post October 19, the day of Diwali. The state ambient air quality data, for which the location of sampling was Civil Lines, records a significant rise in Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) and Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) on Diwali.
From 81 microgram per cubic meter (mpcm) on October 12, the 24 hours average of RSPM rose to 172 mpcm on October 19. Similarly, the 24 hours average of SPM witnessed a steep rise — from 81 mpcm pre-Diwali to 223 mpcm on the festival day. Highest pollution was recorded post 10pm in the area. While RSPM values went as high as 221.6 mpcm between 10pm-6am, SPM rose to 285.9 mpcm during the same time period.
A similar trend was observed at other monitoring locations including North Ambazari Road, Hingna Road and Sadar which fall under residential, industrial and commercial zones respectively. From 192.4 on October 12, the 24 hours average of SPM rose to 229.4 mpcm on Diwali day and stayed varied from 243.2 to 239.1 on the second and third day of the festival. In this area too, RSPM and SPM were the highest between 10pm-6am on Diwali day.
Sadar, too, saw a drastic increase in the pollutants on Diwali — the 24 hours average RSPM rose to 147.5 from 91.5 mpcm pre-Diwali. SPM average, which was earlier 124.6, was recorded 220.9 and 228.9 on October 19 and 20. Highest SPM was recorded in the wee hours of Diwali's next day.
The concentration of gases like sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) also saw an increase during the festival. At North Ambazari Road, SO2 and NOx levels increased on October 19 and 20, particularly in the night hours.
Stating that other sources are also responsible for pollution, experts said that the contribution of crackers cannot be ignored. "The general trend in all the monitoring locations shows the increase in pollutants coinciding with the Diwali festival. The pollution reached its peak between midnight and early morning hours when the 'mixing' of pollutants is minimum. The ability of atmosphere to disperse pollutants is highest during noon," said environment activist Kavita Rattan.
Delhi-based atmospheric expert Sumit Mishra said that the meteorological conditions are also responsible for hike in air pollution. "Diwali marks the onset of winters and due to low temperature, the conduction in atmosphere is poor. As a result, pollutants remain trapped. Hence regional topography and weather conditions also play an important role in determining pollution," he added.
The monitoring results, which are now available with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), clearly reflect that the air quality began to worsen post October 19, the day of Diwali. The state ambient air quality data, for which the location of sampling was Civil Lines, records a significant rise in Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) and Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) on Diwali.
From 81 microgram per cubic meter (mpcm) on October 12, the 24 hours average of RSPM rose to 172 mpcm on October 19. Similarly, the 24 hours average of SPM witnessed a steep rise — from 81 mpcm pre-Diwali to 223 mpcm on the festival day. Highest pollution was recorded post 10pm in the area. While RSPM values went as high as 221.6 mpcm between 10pm-6am, SPM rose to 285.9 mpcm during the same time period.
A similar trend was observed at other monitoring locations including North Ambazari Road, Hingna Road and Sadar which fall under residential, industrial and commercial zones respectively. From 192.4 on October 12, the 24 hours average of SPM rose to 229.4 mpcm on Diwali day and stayed varied from 243.2 to 239.1 on the second and third day of the festival. In this area too, RSPM and SPM were the highest between 10pm-6am on Diwali day.
Sadar, too, saw a drastic increase in the pollutants on Diwali — the 24 hours average RSPM rose to 147.5 from 91.5 mpcm pre-Diwali. SPM average, which was earlier 124.6, was recorded 220.9 and 228.9 on October 19 and 20. Highest SPM was recorded in the wee hours of Diwali's next day.
The concentration of gases like sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) also saw an increase during the festival. At North Ambazari Road, SO2 and NOx levels increased on October 19 and 20, particularly in the night hours.
Stating that other sources are also responsible for pollution, experts said that the contribution of crackers cannot be ignored. "The general trend in all the monitoring locations shows the increase in pollutants coinciding with the Diwali festival. The pollution reached its peak between midnight and early morning hours when the 'mixing' of pollutants is minimum. The ability of atmosphere to disperse pollutants is highest during noon," said environment activist Kavita Rattan.
Delhi-based atmospheric expert Sumit Mishra said that the meteorological conditions are also responsible for hike in air pollution. "Diwali marks the onset of winters and due to low temperature, the conduction in atmosphere is poor. As a result, pollutants remain trapped. Hence regional topography and weather conditions also play an important role in determining pollution," he added.
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