Mumbai: Contrary to prediction of heavy pollution on Diwali night, Mumbai remained moderate air quality index (AQI) at around 150-165 which meant Shortness of breath for people with Lungs, asthma and heart disease. Thanks to almost normal temperature, humidity and wind speed.
Since the beginning of this week, the city’s AQI was in the poor category, that is, between 201 and 300. Mumbai was predicted to touch an AQI above 300, which is considered to be of very poor quality that causes respiratory illness in case of prolonged exposure.
However, SAFAR has predicted that the pollution level in the city will rise and reach the very poor category between Thursday night and Friday morning. According to SAFAR’s AQ forecast, the most polluted areas are expected to be in Navi Mumbai, BKC and Chembur on both November 4 and November 5.
According to experts, the main reason behind the poor to very poor AQI is low air and high humidity in the atmosphere which is unable to disperse the fumes from vehicles, garbage burning, construction dust and industries. Over and over, firecrackers add fuel to the fire. However, the temperature, wind speed and humidity remained near normal levels on Thursday.
In the AQI, the concentration of particulate matter 2.5 in the air primarily determines the air quality as its presence increases in case of heavy polluting activities between high humidity and low wind speed.
According to the System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the concentration of PM 2.5 (suspended pollutant 2.5 µm or smaller in size) was 75 µg/cubic metre, which is 1.2 times the daily safety limit. As per the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, the safe limit for PM 2.5 should be maintained at 60ug/m3 per day. PM 2.5 is one of the most prominent pollutants in the city.
It said that the highest level of PM 10 and 2.5 is expected to be in the morning hours i.e. between 1 am to 4 pm on November 4 and 5, but it will start improving the next day. According to forecasts, the concentration of PM 2.5 could go up to 182ug/m3, which would be almost three times higher than the 24-hour safety limit. The concentration of PM 10 is likely to be 275 µg/m3 on Friday.
While 2020 saw a poor AQI around 270, though there was less firecracker activity, Diwali in 2019 was clear with better air quality due to low temperatures and strong winds.
Since the beginning of this week, the city’s AQI was in the poor category, that is, between 201 and 300. Mumbai was predicted to touch an AQI above 300, which is considered to be of very poor quality that causes respiratory illness in case of prolonged exposure.
However, SAFAR has predicted that the pollution level in the city will rise and reach the very poor category between Thursday night and Friday morning. According to SAFAR’s AQ forecast, the most polluted areas are expected to be in Navi Mumbai, BKC and Chembur on both November 4 and November 5.
According to experts, the main reason behind the poor to very poor AQI is low air and high humidity in the atmosphere which is unable to disperse the fumes from vehicles, garbage burning, construction dust and industries. Over and over, firecrackers add fuel to the fire. However, the temperature, wind speed and humidity remained near normal levels on Thursday.
In the AQI, the concentration of particulate matter 2.5 in the air primarily determines the air quality as its presence increases in case of heavy polluting activities between high humidity and low wind speed.
According to the System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the concentration of PM 2.5 (suspended pollutant 2.5 µm or smaller in size) was 75 µg/cubic metre, which is 1.2 times the daily safety limit. As per the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, the safe limit for PM 2.5 should be maintained at 60ug/m3 per day. PM 2.5 is one of the most prominent pollutants in the city.
It said that the highest level of PM 10 and 2.5 is expected to be in the morning hours i.e. between 1 am to 4 pm on November 4 and 5, but it will start improving the next day. According to forecasts, the concentration of PM 2.5 could go up to 182ug/m3, which would be almost three times higher than the 24-hour safety limit. The concentration of PM 10 is likely to be 275 µg/m3 on Friday.
While 2020 saw a poor AQI around 270, though there was less firecracker activity, Diwali in 2019 was clear with better air quality due to low temperatures and strong winds.
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