Air quality dips to ‘poor’ in Mumbai

Mumbai: After a week of moderate air quality, the city’s air quality has again dropped to ‘poor’ level. On Sunday, the Air Quality Index (AQI), an indicator of pollutants in the air, rose up to 223 according to the System of Air quality and weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR). Experts have stated that it could be due to lowering down of the city’s temperature with the onset of winters, and the same will be experienced in the coming days.

While areas like Andheri, Borivali, Malad and Mazagaon witnessed ‘very poor’ air quality, Chembur recorded ‘poor’ level of AQI, followed by Worli, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Bhandup and Colaba that experienced ‘moderate’ level air quality. The AQI between 100 and 200 comes under ‘moderate’ category, while ‘poor’ category is the AQI between 200 and 300 and ‘very poor’ AQI is above 300.

“During winter, the air quality deteriorates in Mumbai to poor and very poor levels. Presently, the intensity of the wind is very low due to which the pollutants remain suspended in the surface for longer time,” said Dr. Gufran Beig.

In several areas of Mumbai, the PM2.5 levels that mostly arise from vehicular and industrial emissions were at higher side, with the pollutants rising up to 365 in Andheri. This was followed by Mazagaon (349), Malad (336) and Borivali (303). The PM 10 levels, arising from dust pollution were also at higher levels in Andheri and Mazagaon.