Mumbai wakes to ‘very poor’ air on January 1

Mumbai: On Monday, the first day of 2018, the city’s air quality deteriorated to reach 273 on the Air Quality Index (AQI) around noon, which is considered ‘very unhealthy’, according to the data recorded by the US Consulate, Mumbai. Further, an AQI of 166, ‘unhealthy’ was recorded in Bandra.

The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has suggested that the decline in the city’s air quality could be due to the fire works and dip in temperature during night.

The AQI report by System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) recorded Bandra-Kurla Complex, Mazagaon and Colaba areas in the city to be having very poor air quality on Monday. The AQI recorded at the Bandra Station by the MPCB was recorded at 206 (poor) at 7pm.

 As per SAFAR’s data, PM 2.5 was recorded at 306 for Mazgaon and BKC, while for Colaba it was 305. The numbers fall under ‘very poor’ category. Andheri, Navi Mumbai and Malad too recorded poor levels of the PM 2.5.

These particles in the air that are two and a half microns or less in width, whose elevated levels could lead to poor visibility and health concerns in the affected areas.

“The air quality in certain areas may have declined due to fireworks last night. With the dipping temperature, the pollutant particles get suspended in the surface. However, as compared to December 31 in 2016, there was less bursting of fire crackers this time,” said P. Anbalagan, member secretary, MPCB.