In actual readings in some months, the higher levels of the two carcinogenic elements were far higher – sometimes more than double – than the standards set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) at 100ug/m3 and 60ug/m3 for PM10 and PM2.5, respectively.
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In 2015, a review by the International Agency for Research on Cancer concluded that particulate matter in outdoor air pollution causes lung cancer. Besides, all the pollutants are known to cause as well as aggravate respiratory and cardiovascular ailments.
According to the BMC report, monthly PM10 levels were found to be in the range of 38-290ug/m3 at Andheri and 34-245ug/m3 at Wadala. “During February 2023, the maximum level of PM10 was observed at Andheri traffic junction (290ug/m3) and at Wadala traffic junction (245 ug/m3),” the report said, confirming that winters are the worst when it comes to air pollution.
Monthly PM2.5 levels swung in the range of 12-123ug/m3 at Andheri in March 2023 and 7-129ug/m3 at Wadala in November 2022. The higher range was not a one-off, but was reached several times.
Particulate matter usually arise from construction sites, unpaved roads, fields, smokestacks or fires. They form a formidable nemesis along with chemicals such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, emitted from power plants, industries and automobiles.
Besides the increasing car numbers in the city, the two-wheeler population has touched 27 lakh, with a density of 1,350 per km – the highest in the country. The number of 2-wheelers has risen in Mumbai by over 8 lakh in 6 years – from 19 lakh in 2017 to 27 lakh now.
The annual average level of the deadly carbon monoxide (CO) was found to be within the standard, but the maximum level was often over, including in July 2022 when it was 2.3mg/m3 at Andheri and 2.7mg/m3 at Wadala, higher than the prescribed level of 2mg/m3.
The nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels swung in the range of 11-121ug/m3 at Andheri and 4-113ug/m3 at Wadala, with both peaks also recorded in July 2022.
The monthly levels of sulphur dioxide (SO2) were found to be in the range of 6-10ug/m3 at both Andheri and Wadala, well within the standard of 80ug/m3. Also well within range was ammonia (NH3), clocking from 14-140ug/m3 at Andheri and 5-110ug/m3 at Wadala. The standard is 400ug/m3.
