It is an emergency like situation in Delhi due to Pollution. Immediate Action Required to obviate London Smog situation.
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A blanket of haze and smog has enveloped since Diwali this year. There is the near-asphyxiating quality of air in Delhi-NCR. It has now reached breaking point
People have posted photographs of smog-covered lights with accompanying texts complaining of “zero visibility”. Many have said that the air smells of charred firecrackers and that it is becoming difficult to breathe.
Pollution peaks in the city during Diwali as a hazardous mix of noxious gases and respirable pollutants hang very close to the surface due to low temperature and near-stagnant wind movement.
China declares a ‘red alert’ if air quality plunges to this level. If the alarming pollution levels continue for three consecutive days, China facilitates measures such as shutting down schools and offices, closing down industries and power plants, and road rationing of vehicles.
Understanding PM 2.5 and PM 10 and its impact on health
WHAT IS PARTICULATE MATTER (PM)?
Particulate air pollution is (defined by the US EPA) as an air-suspended mixture of both solid and liquid particles. They are often separated into three classifications; coarse, fine and ultrafine particles. Coarse particles have a diameter of between 10µm and 2.5µm and settle relatively quickly whereas fine (0.1 to 2.5µm in diameter) and ultrafine (<0.1µm in diameter) particles remain in suspension for longer. To put things into perspective, human hair has a diameter of 50-70µm and a grain of sand has a diameter of 90µm.
When someone talks about PM10 they are referring to particles smaller than 10µm. These particles include dust, pollen and mold spores. Conversely, when someone references PM2.5 they are referring to particles smaller than 2.5µm. These smaller particles include combustion particles, organic compounds, and metals.
WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?
Particulate matter can come from both human and natural sources. Natural sources include sea salt, forest fires, pollen, and mold. As they are natural occurrences they are harder to control and are usually left unregulated. Human sources, however, can be regulated and understand where PM comes from is very important. PM10 is most commonly associated with road dust and construction activities. Wear and tear of brakes and tyres on vehicles and crushing activities at construction sites can all contribute to a rise in PM10. Alternatively, PM2.5 is more associated with fuel burning, industrial combustion processes and vehicle emissions.
WHY SHOULD WE MEASURE AMBIENT PARTICULATE MATTER?
The growing awareness of both PM10 and PM2.5 is largely associated with the potentially damaging effects they can have on the human body. The World Health Organisation (WHO) believes particles are affecting more people worldwide than any other pollutant. Primary health effects include damage to the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Due to the small size of PM10 and PM2.5 particles, they can penetrate the deepest parts of the lungs as well as access the gas-exchange regions of the lung via diffusion.
The world’s average PM10 levels by region range from 26 to 208 μg/m3, with a world’s average of 71 μg/m3 as per WHO estimates published in 2014. The permissible level of PM 2.5 is 60µg/m³ while PM10 is 100 µg/m³. Levels beyond that can cause harm to the respiratory system as the ultra fine particulates can embed themselves deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream.
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee’s real-time ambient air quality data from the national ambiance air quality standard at RK Puram today i.e., 7th November 2016 at 12:00 PM is as under:
PM2.5 : 522
PM10: 771
This is Emergency. Action needs to be taken immediately before we reach a situation like London smog in December 1952. 4000 people lost life in London smog.
Delhi ranks among the world’s top cities with foul air on a World Health Organisation list.
It is distressing that concerned authorities in Delhi have failed to address the problem inspite of clear directions last year by Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court on 15th December 2015 had passed a slew of orders to check pollution in Delhi.
* No registration of diesel SUVs, high-end vehicles in Delhi until March 31, 2016
* Goods vehicles not bound to Delhi won’t be allowed to enter
* Green cess to be doubled for commercial vehicles entering Delhi
* No goods vehicles registered before 2006 to be allowed entry into Delhi
* All taxis to switch to CNG by March 1, 2016
* Delhi govt to vacuum-clean roads, make pavements
* Construction activities must adhere to pollution norms
* Solid waste not to be burnt but disposed appropriately
No action, however, has been taken especially with regard to the following orders:
*Delhi government to vacuum-clean roads, make pavements
* Construction activities must adhere to pollution norms
* Solid waste not to be burnt but disposed appropriately
This begs a question. Why action has not been taken by the concerned authorities as per Supreme Court directions? How important is the well-being of the citizens of Delhi?
Tackling Pollution is Delhi is no nuclear science. A list of bullet points for action is given below. The concerned authorities need to act on mission mode.
Don’ts
• Stop Entry of Interstate Trucks (complete radial road- bypass)
• Stop Open construction {compulsory covering}
• Stop Burning of residue crops in Punjab , Haryana ,UP, Rajasthan –Diesel SUVs
• Ban Crackers in Diwali
DO’s
• Take immediate action to implement Supreme Court directions
• Vacuum cleaning to clear dust
• Greening
• Contain construction dust
• Punitive and heavy fine for burning
• check the fly ash which is coming out of the Badarpur plant
• Come up with a warning system on the lines of air quality index in China.
The author is a bureaucrat and a thinker who writes regularly for NewsMobile on civic issues, the views expressed are personal