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Covid-19 lockdown cleared up the air, but harmful ozone levels increased. Here’s why

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said since the starting of the national lockdown, pollution from ozone in 22 mega and metropolitan cities in India "increased and even breached standards in several cities". Around the world, Covid-19 lockdowns cleaned up the air as a plethora of economic activities were brought to a standstill. However, new research shows that while NO2 and PM2.5 levels plummeted during this period, pollution from ozone shot up. On Wednesday, the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said since the starting of the national lockdown on March 25, pollution from ozone in 22 mega and metropolitan cities in India “increased and even breached standards in several cities”. Ozone as a pollutant The highly reactive ozone gas (O3) helps protect life when it is in the Earth’s stratosphere. There, it forms the ozone layer, which filters ultraviolet radiation from the sun. In the troposphere (meaning at groundlevel), however, ozone acts as a pollutant that can trigger several health problems among vulnerable groups, and is known to be associated with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Along with nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), tropospheric ozone is responsible for many of the ill effects caused by outdoor air pollution. What the CSE study says The CSE analysed trends for the four major pollutants– PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and ozone– for the period January 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020 in Delhi-NCR (including Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Noida), Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Ujjain, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Patna, Visakhapatnam, Amritsar, Howrah, Pune, Guwahati, Lucknow and Kochi. The study included spatial trend analysis of ozone in selected cities. As per the study, as many economic activities stalled during the lockdown, PM2.5 and NO2 levels plummeted in most cities, and this caught public attention. However, the maximum standard average of invisible ozone pollution exceeded standard levels in these cities for several days. In Ahmedabad, the maximum average exceeded the standard for 43 days, Ujjain 38 days, Gurugram 26 days, Ghaziabad 15 days, and Noida 12 days. In at least one measuring station in Delhi- NCR and Ahmedabad, ozone levels were higher than standard values on two-thirds of lockdown days. The maps below, provided by CSE, based on CPCB data, show the wide variation in the NO2 and ozone zones in cities despite the comparatively lower levels.

Building the future

Covid-19 is not a mere oversight or an inconvenient accident; it is a result of the actions we have taken to build a world that is both inequitable and divisive Sunita Narain These have to be the weirdest and the most tumultuous times we have lived in. But they are also the most confounding. Coronavirus seems to be unleashing the best and the worst in our world today. On the one hand, we have news of cleaner air — not only in Delhi but also in other parts of the world. There is evidence of a dip in greenhouse gas emission. There is also evidence of human fortitude, empathy, and, above all, selfless toil by millions who work in health care and essential services. It’s their determination to win the war against the virus and to save lives that will be the hallmark of this epic struggle against Covid-19. On the other hand, we have increased use of plastic because we have to fight this infection; there are cities that are giving up the practice of segregating household waste because they just can’t keep up with the growing medical waste and plastic personal protective kits. So, we are going backward. Then, people don’t want to travel in public transport. They fear congested public spaces will add to the risk of contagion. So, as cities open up, private vehicles are bound to increase on city streets. It’s the same with fossil fuel emission, which contributes to climate change. It’s also the time when we are witnessing the worst of human nature — from the lack of action to provide money and food to the vulnerable, including the workers who lost their jobs and were desperate to go home; to the callousness to divide people based on religion or race; to, of course, the untold misery of many who lost their loved ones because they could not get help in time. It’s all there. But let’s look ahead because there will be light at the end of the Corona tunnel and the world we build now will be our future. And, as I say this, let’s also be clear that this is not a rhetorical or an open-ended quest for answers. It is about doing the impossible — finding ways of doing things differently now, when the health crisis is at its peak. We can’t wait for the normal to return because then it will neither be new nor different. And it is possible. The strategy is to find inventive answers, which will work for multiple challenges. Take air pollution in our cities. We know that vehicles are a major contributor to toxins in the air; of these, the worst are heavy-duty trucks that ply in and out of our cities. In January (pre-lockdown), some 90,000 trucks entered Delhi each month; in April (during lockdown), it was only 8,000. So, how do we avoid pollution as we resume our pre-lockdown days back? The fact is that India has made the transition (during lockdown) to a much cleaner fuel and vehicle technology. In the case of heavy-duty vehicles, this would mean a reduction of 90 per cent between pre-April (BSIV) and current BSVI. It is also a fact that the automobile industry is in massive financial distress. Here, we have a win-win solution. If the government was to devise a smart scheme to provide truck owners subsidy for scrapping their old vehicles and replacing them with new ones, it could be a game changer. But the trick is to make sure that the old vehicles are scrapped and recycled and do not end up adding to pollution somewhere else. It is the same with public transport — today it is under pressure for safety. But it is also a fact that without public transport, our cities cannot move. We now realise its importance. So, a financial stimulus to rebuild cities for the future to move people, not vehicles, can begin now. We need to restart public transport with all precaution; we need to augment it fast and find ways to support cycling and walking. The data shows that the bulk of the daily trips are below 5 km in our cities — so it is possible. But the scale of disruption we have seen today demands a similar scale of response as well. This can be done, but it needs imagination and concerted, obsessive action. When it comes to industry and its pollution, it boils down (literally) to what is burnt. So, if we can make moves to first change the fuel — from coal to natural gas — pollution will come down drastically. Then if we can move to electricity for combustion, and if that electricity can be from cleaner sources (natural gas, hydel, biomass, and renewables), it will work for local air pollution first and then also combat climate change. Again, this is within reach. But all this is premised on the belief that we humans want a better tomorrow. Covid-19 is not a mere oversight or an inconvenient accident; it is a result of the actions we have taken to build a world that is both inequitable and divisive, and discounts nature and our health. So, let’s not be naïve that tomorrow will be better — it will and can be better but only if we make it.

Unlock 2.0: Hyderabad air turns as toxic as Delhi's

HYDERABAD: The city saw a rise in pollution levels during lockdown 4.0, when restrictions were relaxed, says a study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi. In Hyderabad, the relaxation saw an over 40% increase in NO2 (Nitrogen dioxide) which is directly linked to vehicular traffic, the study says. The city was not far from Delhi, which saw an increase of 49%, Bengaluru (38%), and Ghaziabad (49%). However, it was not close to the cities which saw the highest increase such as Chennai (77%), Kochi (539%) or Visakhapatnam (89%). Researchers from CSE said that during the lockdown, “Hourly NO2 curve was flattened in all cities daily, with morning peak almost disappearing and evening peak reducing by 22-90%.” They saw a similar reduction in PM2.5 (particulate matter 2.5) levels across cities during the lockdown. But in Hyderabad, the gains made in the middle of the lockdown for PM2.5 did not last as levels returned to those in the first phase. While pollution levels in the city remained well within acceptable standards, researchers warned that increased traffic and industries could hamper gains, especially since worsening levels were being noticed. The analysis covered 22 mega and metropolitan cities in the country from the period of January 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020. Speaking to TOI, Anumita Roychowdhury, ED-research and advocacy, CSE, said: “This pandemic has shown that a big reduction is possible only if all regions clean up together and at a scale and with speed across all critical sectors including vehicles, industry, power plants, waste, construction, use of solid fuels for cooking and episodic burning.” She suggested that for the post-pandemic period to sustain any gains made during the lockdown, it was important to reduce all pollutants. In a surprise, the study noted that the lockdown was not the cleanest period for the city, with the previous monsoon being cleaner

India’s locust control wing is oldest in world

New Delhi: India has the world’s oldest desert locust control programme. The British government established the Locust Warning Organisation (LWO) in 1939 in Karachi following a deadly locust plague between 1926 and 1931. India has the world’s oldest desert locustcontrolprogramme. The British government established the Locust Warning Organisation (LWO) in 1939 in Karachi following a deadly locust plague between 1926 and 1931. Between 1939 and 1946, the main function of the organization was surveillance in the Thar desert and issuance of warnings to the then Indian states about the possibility of desert locust swarms, their movement and breeding, according to the LWO’s Ready Reckoner. In 1946, the LWO moved to Delhi under the directorate of plant protection, quarantine and storage under the ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare. There were locust outbreaks of different intensities in India in 1812, 1821, 1843- 44, 1863-67, 1869-73, 1876-81, 1889-98, 1900-1907, 1912-1920, 1926-1931, 1940-1946, 1949-1955, 1959-1962, 1978, 1993, 1997, 2005, 2010 according to the LWO. Today, the LWO has 250 employees who survey locust populations and issue bulletins every fortnight that help farmers prepare for a locust invasion. LWO carries out locust surveys or population monitoring activities in line with a survey schedule finalized at the beginning of every locust season, prepares and submits the locust survey reports for the department of agriculture and cooperation; organizes and supervises locust control operations as and whensorequired; coordinates with state governments and the Border Security Force (BSF) for locust control operations, among others. LWO also organises the Indo-Pak locust officers border meeting for exchange of information on locusts, situation in their respective countries during locust season (June to November), the Ready Reckoner says. “Even when there is no locust attack as such, we are surveying and making reports. We also coordinate with the Food and Agriculture Organisation to prepare for possible outbreaks,” said KL Gurjar, deputy director, LWO. Keith Cressman, senior desert locust officer at the FAO, said at a webinar organised by the Centre for Science and Environment last month: “India is well equipped. It has the oldest national locust programme” and so wasbetter prepared to handle the invasions during the current locust upsurge. According to the FAO Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in South- West Asia publication, the five-year invasion from 1926 to 1931 was estimated to have caused damage to crops alone of Rs 2 crore. Damage was also caused to fodder and pastures, resulting in heavy mortality among cattle, goats and sheep. The report states that South West Asia has experienced several locust plagues in the past. Locusts are mentioned in Sanskrit literature, including the Mahabharata. It also finds mention in the Iranian Zoroastrian Vendidad, the tenth chapter of the Book of Exodus in the Bible and in the Al-Araf chapter 7 of the Quran.

Ozone Surpassed Other Harmful Gases to Become Most Prominent Pollutant During Lockdown: CSE

Back in March, when India went into nationwide lockdown mode to curb the spread of novel coronavirus, an unintended yet favourable side-effect to emerge from it was the drastic fall in air pollution levels across the country. But while the flattening of PM2.5 and NO2 curves made the news, tropospheric ozone pollution rose significantly, as per the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). According to an analysis conducted by the CSE, which involved close monitoring of 22 Indian mega-cities, the amount of ozone in the atmosphere breached the standards in major urban areas across the country. Before diving into the rise in ozone, let us first understand what it is: Ozone is a chemical compound that is not emitted directly by any source; instead, it forms through photochemical reactions between pollutants like oxides of nitrogen (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other gases in the air, under the influence of sunlight and heat. This very fact makes ozone tricky to control—to reduce it, the fundamental gases from all sources need to be controlled. Ozone happens to be a highly reactive gas, however, as even short-term, onehour exposure can be especially harmful for individuals with asthma and respiratory conditions. The presence of this pollutant poses a problem particularly during the spring and summer months in north, central, and the arid parts of western India. It has also been observed to increase during warmer winters in the southern and coastal cities. To analyse the ozone trends during the lockdown period, CSE ditched the traditional method of measuring ozone between the fixed time slot of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Instead, it adopted the best global practice of considering the maximum rolling eight-hour average every 24 hours—which worked far better, considering ozone levels tend to peak post 4 p.m. Subsequently, they were able to calculate the number of days during which ozone levels exceeded the standard in at least one air-monitoring station in a major city, and the list goes as follows: Delhi: 67 days (i.e. at least one station in the city recorded ozone levels exceeding the standard for 67 days) Chennai: 61 days Gurugram: 57 days Ghaziabad: 56 days Noida: 42 days Kolkata: 17 days Mumbai: 5 days Furthermore, the Air Quality Index (AQI) bulletin that the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) publishes on a daily basis indicated that due to the drop in other pollutants, ozone became the most prominent pollutant of the day in several cities, thereby leading the AQI scores. Another interesting finding arrived through the mapping of ozone concentrations spatially across the megacities, as the study found that ozone pollution was at its highest in the greenest parts of the city. Stations with the lowest NO2 pollution recorded the highest ozone levels, due to the simple fact that the ozone in cleaner areas has no NOx to react with, and as a result, ozone concentration builds up at such locations. The coincidence of the nationwide lockdown measures and summer months led to ozone popping its ugly head up for all to see, and it is now up to us to take the appropriate top-down and bottom-up approaches towards killing this pollutant before it kills us. Speaking on this very need, Anumita Roychowdhury, executive directorresearch and advocacy, CSE, stated: “This pandemic-led change in air quality has helped us understand summer pollution. Normally, every year, winter pollution is what draws our attention. The characteristics of summer pollution are different: there are high winds, intermittent rains and thunderstorms, and high temperature and heatwaves. This is in contrast to winter—with its inversion, lower mixing height of air, and cold and calm conditions that trap the air and the pollutants in it. “This pandemic has shown that big reduction is possible only if all regions clean up together and at a scale and with speed across all critical sectors including vehicles, industry, power plants, waste, construction, use of solid fuels for cooking and episodic burning. There is a need for an agenda for a ‘blue sky and clear lungs’ for the post-pandemic period to sustain the gains. This action must also ensure the co-benefit of reducing both particulate and gaseous emissions, including ozone.” | June 27, 2020

Ozone levels up in Delhi-NCR during lockdown, mostly in green parts

NEW DELHI: Though the PM2.5, PM10 and nitrogen oxide (NOx) levels dropped during the lockdown period, the ozone levels exceeded the prescribed standards on two-thirds of the lockdown days in Delhi-NCR, a new analysis released by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Thursday has revealed. The analysis, which was carried out across 22 cities, found a high build-up of ozone in the greenest parts of the city where the nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels were generally the lowest. For the analysis of ozone trends, CSE adopted the global best practice of considering the maximum rolling eighthour average in 24 hours, as opposed to the fixed time slot of 8am-4pm daily that Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) adopted to release Air Quality Index (AQI) data. The study stated that CPCB’s method failed to capture the worst part of the day, which posed a higher health risk as most of the time ozone levels peaked after 4pm. The study revealed that the city-wide maximum average of ozone in Gurgaon exceeded the standard on 26 days and at least one station exceeding on 57 days. Ghaziabad exceeded the standard on 15 days, with at least one station exceeding on 56 days. In Noida, the maximum average was more than the standard on 12 days, while at one station it was more on 42 days. In Delhi, the standard exceeded on four days, and at least one station on 67 days. The problem was also particularly visible in terms of the CPCB data. The study stated that ozone emerged as the lead pollutant for several days during the lockdown period. “With all the pollutants down, ozone, even at a comparatively lower level, became the most prominent pollutant of the day in several cities and led the daily AQI,” said the study. The AQI was led by ozone in Delhi on 10 days, of which eight were categorised as “moderately polluted”, which is higher than the standard. In Gurgaon, ozone led the AQI on 14 days, seven of which were categorised as “moderately polluted” and one as “poor”. The study also pointed out that the ozone pollution was generally the highest in stations with the lowest NO2 pollution, often building up in the greenest parts of the city. “This is because ozone is formed when NOx, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and gases react with each other under the influence of sunlight and temperature. A high NOx level can again react with ozone and mop it up. The ozone that escapes to cleaner areas has no NOx to further cannibalise it. As a result, ozone concentration builds up in these areas,” said the analysis. In Delhi, Nehru Nagar near Lodhi Gardens was found to be one such site. At the ground level, ozone is a highly reactive and even short-term exposure (of one hour) is dangerous for those with respiratory conditions and asthma. Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE, said that this pandemic-led change in air quality had helped them understand summer pollution. “Normally, every year, winter pollution is what draws our attention. The characteristics of summer pollution are different. There are high winds, intermittent rains, thunderstorms, high temperatures and heatwave. This is in contrast to winter — with its inversion, lower mixing height of air, and cold and calm conditions, which trap the air and the pollutants in it,” she added.

Ozone pollution increased during lockdown: Study

The study was conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment An analysis of summer air quality trends during the nationwide lockdown, which started on March 25, 2020, reveals that while PM2.5 (particulate matter) and NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) levels fell and flattened in many cities, tropospheric ozone pollution increased and even breached standards in several cities. The study was conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in 22 mega and metropolitan Indian cities, including the National Capital Region, Kolkata, Kochi and Lucknow. Based on data from the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) official online portal, the Central Control Room for Air Quality Management, the study notes that even as blue skies emerged in most cities (as particulate matter and NO2 levels plummeted) invisible ozone raised its ugly head on several days and in several cities. Ozone is primarily a sunny weather problem in India that otherwise remains highly varying during the year. It is a highly reactive gas. Even short-term exposure (one hour) to it is dangerous for those with respiratory conditions and asthma. That is why ozone has a short term standard–one hour and eight hours, as opposed to 24 hours for other pollutants. Ozone is not directly emitted by any source but is formed by photochemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and gases in the air under the influence of sunlight and heat. Ozone can be controlled only if gases from all sources are controlled. As per Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director-research and advocacy, CSE, “This pandemic-led change in air quality has helped us understand summer pollution. Normally, every year, winter pollution is what draws our attention. The characteristics of summer pollution are different: there are high winds, intermittent rains and thunderstorms, and high temperature and heat waves. This is in contrast to winter— with its inversion, lower mixing height of air, and cold and calm conditions that trap the air and the pollutants in it.” Roychowdhury adds, “This pandemic has shown that big reduction is possible only if all regions clean up together and at a scale and with speed across all critical sectors including vehicles, industry, power plants, waste, construction, use of solid fuels for cooking and episodic burning. There is a need for an agenda for a ‘blue sky and clear lungs’ for the post-pandemic period to sustain the gains. This action must also ensure the co-benefit of reducing both particulate and gaseous emissions, including ozone.” Ozone is a problem during spring and summer in the north, central and the arid parts of western India. It can even increase during warmer winters in the southern and coastal cities. The CPCB publishes the daily Air Quality Index (AQI) bulletin to inform about the severity of the pollution every day. With all pollutants down during lockdown, ozone, even at a comparatively lower level, became the most prominent pollutant of the day in several cities and led the daily AQI. These high levels are reported even when the CPCB considers the fixed time slot of 8pm to 4pm, which may not be the worst average of the day for ozone. CSE mapped ozone concentrations spatially in the mega cities and found that ozone pollution is the highest in stations with the lowest NO2 pollution – ozone levels build up in the greenest parts of the city where the NO2 levels are very low. This is because ozone is formed when NOx, VOCs and gases react with each other under the influence of sunlight and temperature. A high NOx level can again react with ozone and mop it up. The ozone that escapes to cleaner areas has no NOx to further cannibalise it, and as a result, ozone concentration builds up in these areas. For example, Nehru Nagar near the Lodhi Garden area in Delhi, Colaba in Mumbai, Victoria in Kolkata, Hombegowda Nagar (Lalbagh Gargen Area) in Bengaluru, and Central University in Hyderabad are ozone pollution hotspots. The NO2 hotspots like Mundka in Delhi, Vasai West and Sion in Mumbai, Rabindra Bharati University in Kolkata, Jayanagar in Bengaluru, and Zoo Park in Hyderabad show very little ozone build-up. Particulate pollution dropped dramatically during the lockdown. The lockdown provided the cleanest contiguous 54-days period for Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Chennai, Howrah, Kolkata, Jodhpur, and Visakhapatnam since January 1, 2019. With lockdown relaxation there has been rapid and significant rise in air pollution levels. The average level for lockdown 4.0 compared to the average of the cleanest of the other lockdown phases was higher in Chennai by 118 per cent; in Faridabad by 185 per cent; in Jaipur and Amritsar by 109 per cent; in Visakhapatnam by 108 per cent; in Pune by 80 per cent; in Delhi by 43 per cent; in Gurugram by 56 per cent; and in Ghaziabad by 52 per cent. In 2019, Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Noida saw a rise in their average NO2 levels between the spring and summer seasons. But this year, they have all registered a significant drop (39-63 per cent). Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati, Howrah, Jodhpur, Kolkata and Lucknow observed their lowest daily NO2 average since January 1, 2019 during the lockdown. In the lockdown period,15 out of the 22 cities witnessed the cleanest contiguous 54 days since January 1, 2019 – the conditions were even better than in the monsoon months. In Amritsar, Hyderabad, Gurugram, Jodhpur, Patna, Pune, and Ujjain, the lockdown period was not as clean as their monsoon season. Among the recommendations made by the CSE for ‘blue sky and clean lungs’ are no more delay in the implementation BSVI emission norms, cleaner battery vehicles for para-transit and public transport, a financial stimulus package to augment public transport services, making cycle and walk the new normal, reduce travel needs, transition to cleaner fuels in industries, elimination of waste burning and stringent control on construction and demolition waste.

Ozone levels increased during lockdown, says CSE

The CSE looked at data on two major air pollutants emitted from burning fossil fuels: nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particulate matter known as PM2.5. There was a rapid rise in PM2.5 during the lockdown relaxation and rise in pollution levels during Lockdown 4.0 when restrictions were relaxed. (Photo| RVK Rao, EPS) NEW DELHI: The analysis of summer air quality during the national lockdown which started on March 25 presented a mixed trend. While the PM2.5 and NO2 curves fell and flattened dramatically in cities, a phenomenon that hogged the national attention is the increase in tropospheric ozone pollution which even breached standards in several cities, according to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The CSE looked at data on two major air pollutants emitted from burning fossil fuels: nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particulate matter known as PM2.5. The CSE did an analysis of 22 mega and metropolitan cities in India. The cities covered by the CSE analysis are Delhi- NCR (including Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Noida), Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Ujjain, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Patna, Vishakapatnam, Amritsar, Howrah, Pune, Guwahati, Lucknow, and Kochi. There was a rapid rise in PM2.5 during the lockdown relaxation and rise in pollution levels during Lockdown 4.0 when restrictions were relaxed. The average level for lockdown 4.0 compared to the average of the cleanest of the other lockdown phases was higher in Chennai by 118 per cent; in Jaipur and Amritsar by 109 per cent; in Visakhapatnam by 108 per cent; in Pune by 80 per cent; and in Delhi by 43 per cent. According to CSE researchers, ozone is primarily a sunny weather problem in India that otherwise remains highly variable during the year. It is a highly reactive gas; even short-term exposure (one hour) is dangerous for those with respiratory conditions and asthma. Ozone is not directly emitted by any source but is formed by photochemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and gases in the air under the influence of sunlight and heat. Ozone can be controlled only if gases from all sources are controlled. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director-research, and advocacy, CSE said: “This pandemic-led change in air quality has helped us understand summer pollution. Normally, every year, winter pollution is what draws our attention. The characteristics of summer pollution are different: there are high winds, intermittent rains and thunderstorms, and high temperatures and heatwaves. This is in contrast to winter - with its inversion, lower mixing height of air, and cold and calm conditions that trap the air and the pollutants in it.” If the maximum eight-hour average for 24 hours is considered (as the environment Protection Agency does to capture the health risks), then more than two-thirds of the lockdown days in Delhi-NCR cities and Ahmedabad had at least one station that exceeded the standard. In Ahmedabad, the city-wide maximum eight-hour average exceeded the standard on 43 days; in Ujjain, it exceeded on 38 days. | Delhi | June 26, 2020

Ozone pollution spiked in several cities during lockdown: CSE

Sparse traffic during the lockdown brought down the levels of particulate matter in Delhi’s air. Analysis of data from 22 cities in 15 States also shows particulate pollution dropped dramatically While particulate matter and nitrous oxide levels fell during the lockdown, ozone — also a harmful pollutant — increased in several cities, according to an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Ozone is primarily a “sunny weather problem” in India, said CSE researchers, that otherwise remains highly variable during the year. It is a highly reactive gas; even short-term exposure of an hour is dangerous for those with respiratory conditions and asthma and that’s why an eight-hour average is considered for ozone instead of the 24-hour average for other pollutants. Over two-thirds days The analysis was based on Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data from 22 cities in 15 States in lockdown days considered from March 25 to May 31. It emerged that more than two-thirds of the lockdown days in Delhi-NCR cities and Ahmedabad had at least one observation station that exceeded the standard. In Ahmedabad, the city-wide maximum eight-hour average of ozone exceeded the standard on 43 days; in Ujjain, it exceeded on 38 days. The standard used was that of the United States Environment Protection Agency norms. The city-wide maximum average of ozone in Gurugram exceeded the standard on 26 days — at least one observation station exceeded the standard on 57 days. The city-wide eight-hour maximum average in Ghaziabad exceeded the standard on 15 days, with at least one station exceeding on 56 days. In Noida, Uttar Pradesh, the city-wide maximum average exceeded the standard on 12 days; at least one station exceeded on 42 days. In Delhi, the maximum eight-hour average exceeded the standard on four days, and at least one station exceeded the standard on 67 days. In Kolkata,the city-wide average of ozone was exceeded on eight days; at least in one station the standard was exceeded on 17 days. Chennai and Mumbai did not register a single day of excess ozone at the city-wide level, but at least one station in both exceeded the standard on 61 days and five days, respectively. ‘Summer pollution’ Ozone is not directly emitted by any source but is formed by photochemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and gases in the air under the influence of sunlight and heat. It can be curtailed only if gases from all sources are controlled. “This pandemic-led change in air quality has helped us understand summer pollution. Normally, every year, winter pollution is what draws our attention. The characteristics of summer pollution are different: there are high winds, intermittent rains and thunderstorms, and high temperature and heat waves,” Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director-research and advocacy, CSE, said in a press statement. “This is in contrast to winter — with its inversion, lower mixing height of air, and cold and calm conditions that trap the air and the pollutants in it.” PM levels fall Particulate pollution dropped dramatically during the lockdown. Average PM 2.5 levels during the lockdown for all cities were found to be lower than the average for the same period in 2019. Amritsar, Chennai, Howrah, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kolkata and Patna observed their cleanest days since January1, 2019. Rest of the cities had registered relatively cleaner days during the monsoon season. The lockdown provided the cleanest contiguous 54 days period for Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Chennai, Howrah, Kolkata, Jodhpur, and Visakhapatnam since January 1, 2019. For Jaipur and Patna, the lockdown average was only 1-3% higher than their monsoon 2019 levels. However, with lockdown relaxed, pollution started to increase. As soon as lockdown 4.0 came in with more relaxation and traffic returned on roads, the average NO2 levels increased rapidly from the cleanest lockdown phase. This increase was higher in Chennai by 77%, Noida by 66%, Kochi by 539%, Jaipur by 43%, Visakhapatnam by 89%, Pune by 81%, Delhi by 49%, Gurugram by 81%, Hyderabad by 45%, Bengaluru by 38%, and Ghaziabad by 49%.

PM pollution down but ozone levels cross permitted limit during peak lockdown in Dehi-NCR

Concentration of particulate matter and gases such as nitrogen dioxide reduced significantly during the nationwide lockdown but ozone pollution kept increasing and even breached the safe standards in many metro cities, including the national capital, according to an analysis of summer air quality trends by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The organisation studied pollution trends of 22 mega cities -- Delhi-NCR (including Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Noida), Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru, among others -- for five months (spring to summer) during January 1-May 31 this year and compared it with the corresponding period of 2019. The focus of the study has been on the period of the lockdown from March 25-May 31. In Delhi, even though overall the severity of ozone pollution was comparatively lower than summer months of 2019 because of the lockdown, the levels still increased and exceeded the standards. This was when other major pollutants such as PM 2.5 and NO2 curves had flattened during the lockdown period, the study said. The CSE studied the number of days when the ozone concentrations exceeded between March 22 and May 31 (lockdown period) this year and for the same period in 2019. The permissible standards (maximum 8 hours average) for ozone are 100 micrograms per cubic metres. “In Delhi, as compared to 2019 when the ozone levels (citywide average) breached the standards on 21 days, in 2020 the levels were breached on four days. However, what is important to note is that the number of days when the levels were breached at least at one monitoring station is high and remains similar for both --- this year (67 days) and in 2019 (68 days). The worst ozone pollution day in Delhi was recorded on May 17,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE. In NCR towns, the city-wide maximum average in Gurugram exceeded the standard on 26 days -- at least one station exceeded the standard on 57 days. The city-wide average in Ghaziabad exceeded the standard on 15 days, with at least one station exceeding on 56 days, the study showed. In Noida, the citywide average exceeded the standard on 12 days; at least one station exceeded on 42 days. In Kolkata, the citywide average exceeded on eight days; at least in one station exceeded on 17 days. Chennai and Mumbai did not register a single day of breached standards at the citywide level, but at least one station in both exceeded the standard on 61 days and five days, respectively. In Ahmedabad, the citywide average exceeded the standard on 43 days. The analysis is based on data sourced from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) website. The study showed that with all pollutants down during lockdown, ozone, even at a comparatively lower level, became the most prominent pollutant of the day in several cities and led the daily air quality index (AQI). The AQI was led by ozone in Delhi on 10 days (8 of these days were categorised as ‘moderately polluted’) and Gurugram on 14 days (7 days were categorised ‘moderately polluted’ and one as ‘poor’). Vehicular pollution and industrial emissions are major contributors to creation of ozone. It is not directly emitted by any source but is formed by photochemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and gases in the air under the influence of sunlight and heat, it added. CSE researchers point out that ozone is primarily a sunny weather problem in India that otherwise remains highly variable during the year. It is a highly reactive gas and even short-term exposure (one hour) is dangerous for those with respiratory conditions and asthma. That is why ozone has a shortterm standard – one hour and eight hours, as opposed to 24 hours for other pollutants. Also, the study found that ozone pollution is the highest in stations with the lowest NO2 pollution – ozone levels build up in the greenest parts of the city where the NO2 levels are very low. “This is because ozone is formed when NOx, VOCs and gases react with each other under the influence of sunlight and temperature,” she said. She said, for instance, Nehru Nagar near the Lodhi Garden area in Delhi; Colaba in Mumbai, among others, are ozone pollution hot spots. “This pandemic-led change in air quality helped us understand summer pollution. Usually, every year, winter pollution is what draws our attention. This means we need to reduce overall pollution to reduce ozone pollution by intervention such as introduction of BS-VI norms for vehicles, augmentation of public transport, cleaner fuel transition in industries and promoting of activities such as cycling and walking,” she added.

दूध के साथ शरीर में जा रहा है एंटीबायोटिक

Center for Science and Environment सीएसई का अध्ययन : अगर कोई डेयरी किसान अपने मवेशियों को एंटीबायोटिक देता है तो इसके मानव शरीर में पहुंचने की आशंका रहती है। बेवजह एंटीबायोटिक का उपयोग रोग ठीक करने की इसकी क्षमता को बेअसर कर देता है। पशुपालकों को विथड्रॉल पीरियड की नहीं है जानकारी। दूध का कारोबार करने वाले किसान आमदनी बढ़ाने के लिए फसलों के साथ ही मवेशियों में भी एंटीबायोटिक का उपयोग ज्यादा करने लगे हैं जो चिंताजनक है। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एन्वायरमेंट (सीएसई) (Center for Science and Environment) का अध्ययन कहता है कि अगर कोई डेयरी किसान अपने मवेशियों को एंटीबायोटिक देता है तो इसके मानव शरीर में पहुंचने की आशंका रहती है। बेवजह एंटीबायोटिक (Antibiotic) का उपयोग रोग ठीक करने की इसकी क्षमता को बेअसर कर देता है।</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">इस अध्ययन से जुड़े सीएसई की राजेश्वरी सिन्हा, दिव्या खट्टर और अमित खुराना के अनुसार देश के पशुपालकों की आमदनी का जरिया दूध बेचना है। पशुओं को स्वस्थ रखने के उद्देश्य से वे एंटीबायोटिक का उपयोग करते हैं जबकि उनको यह मालूम नहीं है कि इसका मानव शरीर पर कितना घातक असर पड़ सकता है। सीएसई ने जिन किसानों से बात उनमें से अधिकांश को विथड्रॉल पीरियड की जानकारी नहीं थी। यह एंटीबायोटिक के अंतिम इस्तेमाल और दूध बेचने से पहले की अवधि (७ से १५ दिन) होती है। किसानों को इस अवधि में दूध कभी नहीं बेचना चाहिए इसका नतीजा एंटीबायोटिक रेसिस्टेंस के रूप में सामने आता है। भारतीय खाद्य सुरक्षा एवं मानक प्राधिकरण (एफएसएसएआई) ने 2018 में देशभर के संगठित और असंगठित क्षेत्र के दूध के नमूनों की जांच की थी। जांचे गए 77 नमूनों में एंटीबायोटिक के अवशेष स्वीकार्य सीमा से अधिक पाए थे।</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">सर्वे में यह सामने आया है कि पशुओं में अमूमन होने वाले थनैला रोग से किसान परेशान रहते हैं। दवाखानों के चक्कर काटने के बजाय आमतौर पर इस बीमारी का इलाज खुद ही करते हैं इस वजह से ऐसी एंटीबायोटिक का उपयोग कर बैठते हैं जिनके दुष्परिणाम सामने आते हैं।</p> दुधारू पशुओं की संख्या ३० करोड़ 2018-19 में यहां 187.7 मिलियन टन दूध उत्पादन शहरी क्षेत्र में 52 प्रतिशत दूध का उपभोग</li> शहरी क्षेत्रों में असंगठित क्षेत्र (दूधिया और ठेकेदार) से 60 प्रतिशत दूध की आपूर्ति होती है। यह दूध क्या वास्तव में अच्छा है? </ul> उपाय <li>एचपीसीआइए के इस्तेमाल पर रोक</li> <li>सीआईए के दुरुपयोग को कम करने की योजना</li> <li>एंटीबायोटिक दवाओं के दुरुपयोग को कम करने के लिए मानक उपचार के दिशानिर्देश</li> <li>पशु चिकित्सा प्रणाली मजबूत की जाए</li> <li>किसानों में विथड्रॉल पीरियड के प्रति जागरूकता लाई जाए</li> तमिलनाडु दुग्ध उत्पादक सहकारी संघ (आविन) में उपभोक्ताओं तक दूध की सुपुर्दगी से पहले विभिन्न स्तरों पर ९० तरह की जांच होती है। आविन केवल सोसायटी के सदस्यों से दूध की खरीद करता है। क्लीन मिल्क प्रॉडक्शन नीति के तहत पशुपालकों को मवेशियों के रखरखाव तथा दूध दुहने की पूरी तालीम दी जाती है। उनकी भी पशु चिकित्सकों व विशेषज्ञों द्वारा आवधिक जांच होती है। दूध उत्पादकों से क्लस्टर, सोसायटी और अंत में आविन की डेयरी तक सैम्पल के विभिन्न जांच होते हैं। आविन का दूध शिशुओं को भी दिया जा सकता है।<br><strong>वी. वासु,</strong> पूर्व जनसंपर्क अधिकारी, आविन</p>

Lockdown Reduced Pollution In Delhi Temporarily, Long-Term Relief Needs Policy

New Delhi: As Delhi re-opens, cars are back on the road, construction is restarting, factories are reopening, and air pollution--which had fallen to half the usual levels at this time of the year--is back on the rise. The gains from the COVID-19 lockdown are unlikely to last and air pollution will eventually return to the city’s usual high levels. Any long-term sustained reduction in air pollution will require widespread policy changes, experts told IndiaSpend. “There is nothing to celebrate. These are mechanical improvements in air quality that do not reflect structural change, and will go away once activities resume,” said Santosh Harish, fellow at the Centre for Policy Research. New measures to tackle pollution will require widespread change and may face resistance from the public. “All the soft options are over. Future measures will be more difficult and inconvenient-- restraining use of personal vehicles and promoting public transport requires behavioural change,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Delhi has long ranked as one of the world’s worst polluted cities. In November 2019, the Delhi government declared a health emergency when the city recorded a PM 2.5 concentration of 625 microgram per cubic metre (μg/m3) of air, 24 times the safe limits prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Exposure to such high levels of air pollution has been linked to lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory illness, and infertility. Annually, air pollution accounts for 1.24 million or 12.5% of total deaths in India. Delhi’s air pollution problem may have contributed to exacerbating the COVID-19 toll in the city. Long-term exposure to PM 2.5 and NO2 may increase COVID-19 mortality. Particulate matter may harbour the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, increasing its persistence in the air and fuelling spread. Pollution locked down The first three phases of the national lockdown, which started on March 25, drove large declines in air pollution in Delhi. In April 2020, the concentration of PM 10--which refers to airborne particulate matter less than 10 micrometre in diameter or seven times finer than human hair--fell to 71.7 μg/m3, less than half the concentration observed during the same month over the previous three years. The concentration of PM 10 rose to 96.4 μg/m3 during the fourth phase of the lockdown, which expanded exemptions and permitted interstate movement starting May 18. From June 1, the fifth phase further allowed offices, industries and construction sites to operate across the National Capital Region (NCR). PM 10 concentration has averaged at 78 μg/m3 during June so far, still considered “good” as per the national Air Quality Index (AQI). Concentration of pollutants in Delhi over 2017-2020 Source: World Air Quality Index Project Note: Seven-day moving average; squares indicate start of various phases of lockdown The concentration of PM 2.5--particulate matter that is four times finer than PM 10 and capable of penetrating deep into the respiratory system--has also followed a similar trajectory. It was 31% lower than usual levels during the first three phases of the lockdown at 110.1 μg/m3. It rose to 122.1 μg/m3 during the fourth and fifth phases, “very poor” conditions under the AQI. The drop in pollutants is due to the suspension of their source activities and not driven by fundamental changes in the economy. Particulate matter in Delhi is caused by construction, factories and traffic, all of which ground to a halt during the lockdown. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions, which have fallen by 48% in June compared to previous years, are driven by transportation. Mobility for retail and work areas has fallen by 62% and 48%, based on data collected by Google Maps. In contrast, sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and ground-level ozone (O3) concentrations have been in line with those observed in previous years. SO2 emissions in Delhi are associated with coal-burning power plants, which have continued to operate. CO is a result of incomplete burning of fuels and persists in the atmosphere for a long-time. O3, a secondary pollutant, is formed when nitrous oxides such as NO2, which are emitted by transport-related sources, are exposed to sunlight. Change in Mobility in Delhi During 2020 Source: Google COVID-19 Community Mobility Report Delhi’s air pollution trajectory has followed trends across the world. NO2 levels in countries affected by COVID-19 fell by 60% in early 2020, but have since been rising as lockdowns ease. In China, PM 2.5 and NO2 concentrations fell by 30% in March but have now returned to usual levels. CO2 emissions have fluctuated similarly. Long-term reduction needs policy changes Though slowly rising, air pollution levels are still lower than concentrations usually observed in Delhi at this time of year. Compared to the average over 2017-19, concentrations of PM 10, PM 2.5 and NO2 during June 2020 are lower by 46.4%, 20.5%, and 48%, respectively. “Right now the weather is nice, with high winds and some rains. After this, we will start to see the build up of pollution,” said Sarath Guttikunda, director of UrbanEmissions, a platform for monitoring and research on air pollution data. Over the last two decades, Delhi has incrementally adopted measures to alleviate air pollution--it transitioned the public bus fleet to using compressed natural gas (CNG) instead of diesel, closed coal plants in city limits, banned industries from using dirty fuels, diverted polluting traffic via bypasses, and devised an emergency response plan to curb episodic spurts in pollution. “Due to these actions, we have seen a 25% reduction in particulate matter in the city but we still need a further 65% reduction to meet clean air standards,” Roychowdhury said. The lockdown has created a unique situation by giving the city a glimpse into a clean air future. “After a long time, the city has collectively experienced blue skies,” said Roychowdhury. She is hopeful that this will create a stake in retaining the gains from the lockdown. Air pollution has only recently become a politically salient issue in Delhi, entering party manifestos in the February 2020 assembly elections. The public too does not associate air pollution with health risks, noted Disha Sharma, a postdoctoral researcher at Princeton University. “People didn’t wear masks during the years of bad pollution, it took something as serious as COVID-19 to elicit this reaction,” she said. “To sustain public engagement the messaging needs to be adapted accordingly. We should focus on how air pollution worsens such infections,” Harish added. Political and public buy-in can help drive structural changes that have long been demanded by policy advocates. In June 2020, environmental activists called on the government to implement Bharat Stage-VI standards across heavy vehicles, apply goods and services tax to natural gas, incentivise walking and cycling, and invest in public transport through the financial stimulus. Focus on economic recovery may impact environmental goals Policy changes demand large-scale behavioural changes in the public and would be difficult to realise in any situation. With an ongoing pandemic and ailing economy, their implementation poses further challenges. “In the coming months, the focus will be on economic recovery and we may see a dilution of our goals towards air pollution. This has already begun to happen with the government opening bidding for coal blocks,” said Sharma. The auction of 41 coal blocks for commercial mining activity was announced under India’s economic stimulus package, which has been ranked the fifth worst on a global environment index. The dilution of environmental regulation in the name of economic growth may also accelerate. In March 2020, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) released a draft of the environment impact assessment (EIA) notification, which would allow projects to gain environment clearances after their commencement, reducing oversight. In May 2020, MoEFCC also diluted requirements for coal washing and limits on ash content of coal for thermal power plants, noted Harish. Local approaches centred on public transportation may also face obstacles in a post-pandemic world. Commuters may hesitate to adopt public transport as concerns about social distancing linger. “Used cars are already seeing an increase in sales,” said Harish, “I don’t expect to see a large number of people moving away from public transport, but those who can afford to do so, will, and then may get locked into using personal vehicles.” Though vehicle ownership may increase in the short-term, attitudes towards walking, cycling and public transport will improve in the long-run, found a report by CSE. Some cities are already thinking about ways to incentivise green mobility postlockdown-- European cities including Paris, Milan and Madrid, are undertaking ambitious projects to pedestrianise roads and increase bike lanes. But even if localised policy changes are successful, they may not significantly impact air quality if surrounding areas continue to pollute. “Pollution does not follow political boundaries,” noted Roychowdhury, “clean energy transitions have to happen across NCR to reduce pollution in the airshed.” Broad-based policy measures are especially important to control episodic spurts due to seasonal crop burning and reduce emissions from remaining coal plants in NCR. Work from home curbs unnecessary travel “Not all is doom and gloom,” said Harish. The lockdown has created opportunities to advance environmental thinking. “People are now used to the idea of work from home, which is a behavioural shift that otherwise may not have happened so quickly,” he noted. Working from home will likely curb unnecessary travel and commuting, reducing emissions and congestion. During the lockdown, the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana also provided free LPG to all Ujjwala beneficiaries for three months, replacing dirty fuels and reducing indoor air pollution, which leads to 3.8 million premature deaths annually around the world. “Hopefully this provision can be sustained,” said Harish. Roychowdhury is optimistic: “I have seen how public awareness levels have changed. When we started 20 years ago, air pollution was not even part of the public conversation. As public opinion on the topic gets sharper, public and political awareness will hopefully converge to drive change.” | June 25, 2020

CSE helps launch sanitation pocket book and campaign on faecal sludge management

New Delhi/IBNS: Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and the National Mission for Clean Ganga have joined hands to support one of the key communities of onsite workers who are fighting to contain the COVID-19 pandemic – sanitation workers in cities. Together, they have prepared and released a comprehensive pocket book for sanitary inspectors and supervisors to help ensure health and safety of sanitation workers. They have also kickstarted a campaign developed by BBC Media Action to build awareness on how improper faecal sludge management can impact public health – the campaign has been named MalAsur ‘Demon of Defeca’. Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, director general, National Mission for Clean Ganga and Dr Kajal, director, Directorate of Local Bodies, Department of Urban Development, Uttar Pradesh, released the pocket book and launched the campaign virtually at an online meeting attended by about 75 participants. Suresh Rohilla, senior director, water and wastewater management, CSE, said, “Access to safe water and sanitation is critical for stopping the spread of COVID- 19 pandemic. The importance of proper faecal sludge and septage management in protecting water bodies and building resilience to COVID-19 has already been highlighted during this crisis. Sanitation workers play an important role in helping achieve this objective, and their health and safety needs to be ensured.” Rohilla, who moderated the event, reiterated CSE’s commitment to support the state during these difficult times. The virtual meeting discussed training and sensitisation drive across UP and the Ganga basin region targeting health and safety of sanitation workers during COVID-19; making the pocket book available to sanitary inspectors across this region; raising awareness of impact of faecal sludge on river pollution through the MalAsur campaign in Ganga towns (with a pilot in Bijnor and Chunar); and encouraging the key cities in Uttar Pradesh to take up the MalAsur campaign. Delivering the keynote addresses, Mishra emphasised that such initiatives would help Namami Gange to achieve its objectives, while Dr Kajal assured the listeners about the commitment of the DoUD towards city-wide sanitation and ensuring the health and safety of sanitation workers. Anisha Singh and Reethira Kumar from BBC Media Action; Durgeswar Tripathi, executive officer, Bijnor; Pratibha Singh, executive officer, Chunar; and Rahul Mankotia, programme manager, water and wastewater management unit, CSE were the other panellists at this event. | June 25, 2020