Nitrogen oxides a public health hazard: Report

Mumbai: Experts have raised concerns over emissions from industries in Maharashtra after three cities in the state, including Mumbai, were identified as hotspots of nitrogen oxides (NOx) pollution in a recent study. According to a Greenpeace, the international NGO that conducted the study, apart from Mumbai, Chandrapur and Nagpur too have been reeling under high NOx emissions from industrial units and coal power plants.

The study highlighted that Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, and Hyderabad are among the cities that harbour hotspots emitting the dangerous nitrogen oxide gas. Air pollution experts in Greenpeace have attributed these emissions to coal and petroleum industries along with increasing number of private vehicles. In Mumbai, Trombay has been identified as the hot-spot of such emissions. “In Mumbai petroleum refineries is one of the major source of nitrogen oxide emissions followed by pollution from vehicles,” said Sunil Dahiya, Global Air Pollution Unit, Greenpeace India.

Nitrogen oxide gases are produced by combustion of fuel in air at high temperatures, such as car engines. These gases contribute to the formation of smog and acid rain. The NGO analysed the satellite data of the emission levels between February 2018 and May 2019.

“Nitrogen oxide is not just harmful in itself but also plays a critical role in building up other pollutants and secondary particulate matter — PM2.5. It is important for Mumbai to set up emission load limits for all pollutants in order to protect public health,” added Mr. Dahiya.     

Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) claimed that the number of industries complying with the permissible limits of emissions has increased. “We have been focusing on bringing down the nitrogen oxide levels to permissible limits prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board,” a MPCB official said.