Bangalore air quality deteriorates after Diwali

Bangalore air quality deteriorates after Diwali
Bosky Khanna
Thursday, October 30, 2008 21:23 IST
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BANGALORE: Breathe at your own risk. There is a three-fold increase in air pollution due to the presence of respirable suspended particles in matter (RSPM) increasing, posing a major health hazard to the people.

The three-day (October 26-29) air and noise quality tests conducted by Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) reveals that RSPM in air has increased from 71-73 micrograms per cubic metre to 130-138 micro grams per cubic metre at City centre-City Railway Station (a commercial area) and S G Halli (a residential area).

According to the report state, both are higher than the national ambient air quality standards (of 100 micrograms per cubic metre).

Oxides of nitrogen in air have also increased when compared to normal days. The continuous ambient air quality system recorded 125 micrograms per cubic metre during festive days when compared to 93.5. An increase in sulphor dioxide and carbon monoxide values was also reported at both the locations.

The study was conducted at Jayanagar, AECS Layout, Vijayanagar Club, Indiranagar ESI Hospital and Cubbon Pet. The noise levels were calculated between 5- 11 pm.

Out of four locations where ambient noise level was monitored, noise level has increased at only one location and decreased at 2 locations and was unchanged at one location as compared to the Deepawali day, 2007. The average ambient noise levels on normal day were ranging from 60-70 decibles and on Diwali day 63-87 decibels.