November 10, 2007
 
 
Press Release
CSE tracks air pollution on Diwali; paints grim picture
 
 
  • RSPM levels at Tughlakabad Institutional area has nearly doubled from 178.3 microgramme per cubic metre in 2006 Diwali to 347.5 microgramme per cubic metre this year’s diwali
 
  New Delhi, November 10, 2007:
An analysis of ambient air quality data during Diwali this year in Delhi, done by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) shows that levels of particulates and gases like PM10, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide have increased significantly. CSE monitored the air quality at the Tughlakabad Institutional Area in south Delhi, and also analysed the findings of the online data provided by the Central Pollution Control Board in other locations across the city.

CSE's analysis reinforces the contention that time is ticking out for Delhi. The city's air pollution levels are already threatening to spiral out of control, as CSE has said in a recent press statement -- and a smoggy Diwali can easily make matters worse.

Tughlakabad Institutional Area, where CSE itself monitored the levels, falls under the category of ‘sensitive area’ due to the presence of Batra hospital and some educational institutions. Here, air monitoring of criteria air pollutants including PM10, NO2 and SO2 is being carried out by CSE on a 24-hour basis since 2002.

CSE's analysis comes up with the following conclusions:

  • Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter or PM10: Compared to the 2006 Diwali, this year the RSPM levels increased by nearly two times. This year the levels exceeded the standard (75 microgrammes per cubic metre) by 4.6 times.
  
   
   
  • Nitrogen dioxide (NO2): Compared to the 2006 Diwali, this year the NO2 levels increased by nearly 1.5 times. This year the levels exceeded the standard (30 microgrammes per cubic metre) by 2.8 times.

  • Sulphur dioxide (SO2): This year while SO2 levels in Tughlaqabad (CSE) increased slightly but remained much lower than the standard. In other monitoring locations of CPCB, a comparison of online data between 9 pm during the night of diwali to the early morning of 10th Nov shows that SO2 concentration has increased two to three times at ITO and Siri fort within a span of 6 hours. This is clear sign of pollution from crackers. In fact, the CPCB monitoring locations showed a spurt in SO2 levels in 2006 as well.


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For more details, please contact
Souparno Banerjee at souparno@cseindia.org
9910864339

Vivek Chattopadhyay at vivek@cseindia.org
9911791243

Avinash Balyan
9868471139

 
 

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