Weather not people helped in reducing RSPM
Noise pollution increased by over 10 decibel
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Oct 25: For the first time during the past five years, there was decline in air pollution of Jammu on Diwali Day. However, there was no contribution of people in reduced Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) as situation remained moderate mainly because of rainfall of few days back, which settled the dust in the air up to large extent.
As per the data of Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee, Jammu’s Air Quality Index (AQI) level on Diwali Day in 2018 was 158 while as the same on Diwali Day in 2019 was 130. However, the AQI increased to 186 on Diwali Day in 2020.
In 2021, the Air Quality Index on Diwali Day in Jammu was 173 but this year the AQI level on Diwali Day was 123, which is considered as major decline as compared to previous four years.
As per the data, the copy of which is available with EXCELSIOR, mean average of RSPM, which as per standard limits should be 100 microgram per cubic meter, was 134 in Jammu city while as PM 2.5 was 38.3, which as per standard limits should be 60 microgram per cubic meter. Similarly, SO2 was 4.63 and NO2 was 24.66 microgram per cubic meter.
The air quality monitoring was done at three locations-Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee office at Narwal, MAM Stadium, Jewel and Bikram Chowk, Forest Information Centre. At Narwal, the RSPM was 159 microgram per cubic meter while as the same at MAM Stadium and Bikram Chowk was 125 and 118 microgram per cubic meter respectively.
Similarly, the PM 2.5 was 43.35 microgram per cubic meter at Narwal, 26.22 at MA Stadium and 45.22 at Bikram Chowk. Likewise, SO2 was 4.3 microgram per cubic meter at Narwal, 3.0 at MAM Stadium and 6.6 at Bikram Chowk.
The RSPMs are more dangerous to health because they are much smaller than Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM), the scientists of Pollution Control Committee said, adding “the RSPM are finer particles which when inhaled can cause damage to lungs and exposure to these can irritate lungs and can cause lung constriction, shortness of breath and cough and it aggravates asthma and other respiratory problems”.
However, people don’t deserve any credit for decline in air pollution on Diwali Day this year as there was no control on the bursting of crackers particularly those which generate much dust particles, sources in Pollution Control Committee said. No doubt there were instructions for selling only green crackers but the compliance was minimal because of varied reasons and all sorts of crackers were easily available to the people.
It was only due to rainfall of new days back that air pollution level remained less as compared to previous years. The showers which lashed Jammu and other parts some days back settled the dust in the air up to large extent and because of this even after pollution caused by bursting of crackers the level of RSPM in the air was far less as compared to previous years.
The data further reveals that noise pollution at Bikram Chowk on October 18 was 75.1 decibel but on Diwali Day the same increased to 87.8 decibel. Similarly, the noise pollution at Gole Market Gandhi Nagar, Bakshi Nagar and Kachi Chawani on October 18 was 73.9, 74.1 and 75.5 decibel respectively but on Diwali Day the same increased to 87.4 at Gole Market Gandhi Nagar, 84.7 at Bakshi Nagar and 82.2 at Kachi Chawani.
As per the standard limits, in industrial area the noise level should be 75 decibel in day time and 70 decibel in night time. Similarly, in commercial areas, the noise level should be 65 decibel in day time and 55 decibel in night time. Likewise, in residential area the noise level should be 55 decibel in day time and 45 decibel in night time.
The analysis of data and standard limits clearly reveals that on Diwali Day the noise pollution increased by more than 10 decibel in most of the places.
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