Major Ozone Spike In Delhi-NCR Claims CSE Study, Can Worsen Respiratory Issues
Average ozone levels observed in Delhi exceeded the prescribed standards on 13 per cent of the days between April 1 and June 15 of this year. The number of days crossing the limit was 53 per cent to 92 per cent which has been dubbed as extremely high. According to the AQI which the CPCB releases every day ozone along with particulate matter has been the dominant pollutant of the day on 28 days. This will require strong action to cut down gaseous ...Read More
Delhi-NCR, as we all know, has a really bad history when it comes to pollution and depleting air quality.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) data, nine out of 10 in Delhi people breathe air containing high levels of pollutants,
A disconcerting CNN article in 2017 said that Delhi pollution is made up of a combination of vehicle exhaust, smoke from garbage fires and crop burning, and road dust, and that breathing this pollutant-filled air was almost like smoking 40 cigarettes a day.
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Seems like things are just getting worse in this 'gas chamber'. According to Centre for Science and Environment, the average ozone levels observed in Delhi exceeded the prescribed standards on 13 per cent of the days between April 1 and June 15 of this year.
So, what's alarming about it? This change has come about in a span of just one year and the heat wave being a major contributing factor.
After analysing ozone data, a CSE study found that, this summer, when the capital witnessed searing heat wave, average ozone levels exceeded the prescribed standard on 16 per cent of the days overall, compared to 5 per cent of the days during the same period in 2018, reports PTI.
The analysis further shows that the number of days crossing the limit was 53 per cent to 92 per cent which has been dubbed as 'extremely high'.
"It is shocking to note that according to the AQI which the CPCB releases every day, ozone, along with particulate matter, has been the dominant pollutant of the day on 28 days between April 1 and June 5, 2019.
"During the same period in 2018, ozone was the dominant pollutant along with particulate matter on only 17 days," the study by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said.
"If this trend continues and worsens, the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) will also have to initiate action to address the precursor gases that form ozone ¡ª NOx, hydrocarbons etc ¡ª and crack down on vehicles and industry," Environment expert and CSE Executive Director Anumita Roychowdhury was quoted as saying.
This is a complex atmospheric chemistry and needs investigation, CSE pointed out while warning that the number of days crossing the standard have certainly gone up this summer and can be a serious health crisis.
"As the AQI is beginning to show ozone as a dominant pollutant, this will require strong action to cut down gaseous emissions from combustion sources vehicles and industry.
Delhi¡¯s pollution is aggravated by the carelessness and lack of awareness among resident. People talk about World environment day, going out for marches, but are unconsciously contributing more and more to the crisis. The heatwave wave have exasperated the situation this time, but the blame rest of the damage still falls on humans.
Inputs PTI