There was no significant improvement in air quality compared to last year. The range of average PM 2.5 (fine, respirable particles) may have reduced from 201-533 microgram per cubic metre last Diwali to 145-500 microgram per cubic metre but this has been negated by a substantial rise in oxides of nitrogen. An analysis by the Central Pollution Control Board in the run-up to Diwali day also showed very high levels of carbon monoxide and benzene. In short, Delhiites were exposed to unhealthy air both on Diwali and the day after.
The marginal dip in some pollutants was due to the warm weather and breeze that helped in dispersal. Air quality remained very poor with average PM 10 (coarse particles) and PM 2.5 at least five times the safe standard at almost all monitoring stations.
In fact, a random check of real-time data on the website of Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) on Diwali evening showed PM2.5 levels peak to about 16 times higher than the standard!
There was also an increase in oxides of nitrogen (NO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) levels which are linked to respiratory conditions and reduced lung function. "The maximum average of NO2 has certainly shown an increase over last year - it has shot up by more than two times the standard. This could be linked to the heavy traffic on Diwali and before Diwali while high SO2 levels are linked to use of sulphur-rich crackers. I don't see any significant improvement compared to previous years," said Anumita Roychowdhury, head of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).
The CPCB's analysis of pre-Diwali and Diwali day air pollution pointed at certain pollutants that are otherwise ignored. Carbon monoxide levels, for instance, peaked to 4,328 microgram per cubic metre as against a safe standard of 2,000 microgram per cubic metre. In the run-up to Diwali, on October 20, levels of carcinogen benzene peaked to 22 micrograms per cubic metre as against the safe standard of 5 microgram per cubic metre. Benzene is a component of crude oil and petrol.The levels of PM2.5 — particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres (these fine particles can penetrate lungs easily) — were not available with CPCB on Friday evening. Officials said they could release the data on Saturday. But, according to DPCC's data, PM2.5 levels had improved slightly but were still about eight times the standard at some locations.
"Delhi government has taken steps to contain air pollution levels in Delhi during Diwali through multi-pronged anti-firecrackers campaign with the support and assistance of various stakeholders like eco-clubs, schools, colleges and RWAs. A mass awareness campaign was also carried out through radio channels and media," the environment department claimed in a statement on Friday.
But what both CPCB and DPCC did not talk about was the dangerously high air pollution on Friday, the day after the celebrations. System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), a joint project of Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), found air quality to be "severe" at most monitoring sites. SAFAR follows the air quality index (AQI) which simplifies the air pollution data by providing a colour grading and associated health impacts. The maroon category stands for "severe" which in simple terms means that the air quality is so bad that it can cause health complications even among the healthy population.
SAFAR, however, claimed that there was improvement in air quality compared to previous years. "The weather was warm and the boundary layer (lowest one or 2km of the atmosphere) was up. The slight breeze may have also helped pollutants disperse. There was also some reduction in bursting of crackers," explained Gufran Beig, chief project scientist, SAFAR.
An analysis by CSE of regulations abroad shows the stark disregard for enforcement in Delhi. "In order to cope with record smog, Beijing has issued an emergency plan to curb air pollution, including a ban on fireworks when the city sees three consecutive days of heavy smog. The city government recently introduced a regulation requiring people who buy five or more boxes of fireworks to register with an official ID; the city will halt fireworks sales entirely if pollution rises to dangerous levels," says the analysis.
It also found that Shanghai had cut the city's number of authorized firework sellers by 400.
Fireworks Regulation Act 2004 prohibits the use of fireworks in England and Wales between 11 pm and 7 am. These regulations are enforced by the police and a penalty of up to £5,000 or six months in prison can be enforced for a breach.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=SAFAR,Pollution levels,Gufran Beig,Diwali
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