Average air pollution more than last year’s Diwali

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 20

The average air pollution has shown a rise in pollutants during this Diwali night as compared to last year’s Diwali. It jumped sharply in comparison to normal days.

The data procured from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) shows the average of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM), sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide rose by 24, 5.5 and five points, respectively, on this Diwali night as compared to the previous Diwali night.

The average of these three major constituents were reported at 312 RSPM, 54 nitrogen dioxide and 14 sulphur dioxide this Diwali night, which were 288, 48.5 and 19, respectively, on last Diwali.

The RSPM was 262 microgram per cubic metre (mgcm) on Diwali’s night, which was 270 on the previous Diwali. However, it was recorded at 206 mgcm on October 12, showing a jump of 56 mgcm from normal days on this Diwali’s night.

According to the data, the RSPM level in residential areas this Diwali was pegged at 263 mgcm against a high of 270 mgcm last Diwali, while it was 318 and 248 mgcm in commercial and sensitive areas this Diwali, respectively.

So, the level of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide rose on the Diwali night in comparison to the normal days.

The nitrogen oxide level was recorded at 45 mgcm (residential), 56 (commercial), 41 (sensitive) this Diwali while it was 43, 49 and 42 mgcm, respectively, on last Diwali. On a given normal day, it was recorded at 30, 38 and 30 mgcm in these three areas in the city.

Similarly, the sulphur dioxide level was pegged at 16 (residential), 18 (commercial) and 14 (sensitive) this year as compared to 18, 20 17, respectively, on last Diwali. On a given normal day, it was found at 09, 11 and 11 mgcm at these three locations in the city.

PPCB officials said many people were avoiding bursting firecrackers for pollution-free environment. The high inflation and awareness campaigns held by the government and NGOs had also led to lesser pollution, they added.

Meanwhile, the average noise pollution level saw a minor decline of one point from last year Diwali’s 67 Leq db (A). It was certainly high from the daily noise level. It was 61 (residential), 68 (commercial) and 63 (sensitive) this Diwali which is normally find at 49, 59 and 50, respectively.