According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), for the past few days a pollutant, atmospheric Particulate Matter (PM2.5), is above the permissible limit in the ci
According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), for the past few days a pollutant, atmospheric Particulate Matter (PM2.5), is above the permissible limit in the city. This has been causing health problems to Mumbaikars.
“PM2.5 is a pollutant— a part of Air Quality Index (AQI) and at present it is above permissible limit in the AQI of Mumbai. It is a particle less than 2.5 microns in size, which is dangerous, as it can penetrate deep into lungs and enter the blood stream, damaging the respiratory system of an individual,” Dr Gufran Beig, project director of SAFAR said. According to the experts, the average wind speed on a normal day is around 7-8 km per hour, but currently it is at 2-3 km per hour, also known as calm wind speed. It is this ‘calm wind’ that has resulted in the rise in this pollutant.
Speaking on the matter, Dr Beig said, “The wind speed plays an important role in the accumulation of these pollutants in the atmosphere, low wind speed allows higher level of pollutants to accumulate in the atmosphere, whereas high wind speed scatters the accumulated pollutants. In past one week, we observed that the moisture level in Mumbai has increased and the wind speed has decreased allowing pollutant particles to remain suspended in the air.”
On Friday, Mumbai recorded an AQI of 320 microgramme per cubic metre, which falls under ‘extremely poor’ category. “Generally 60-90mg/m3 is considered to be moderate on AQI, whereas 90-120mg/m3 is considered to be poor, 120-250mg/m3 very poor and above 250mg/m3 is considered as severe or extremely poor,” said Dr Beig.
However, AQI recorded in the first week of January at Mazgaon, Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Borivali, Malad and Bhandup was way above permissible limit of 60mg/m3. Meanwhile, the AQI of Andheri and Chembur was at moderately poor level, and that of Colaba and Worli was comparatively better than other areas.
The air quality is expected to become moderate or poor depending upon the change in wind speed.
