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CSE exposure monitoring on Diwali finds 'unacceptably' high levels of pollution

| | Nov 12, 2015, at 11:08 pm
#CSE # Diwali # pollution # Delhi
New Delhi, Nov 12 (IBNS): Centre for Science and Environment has released the results of the exposure monitoring that it carried out on Diwali night as well as the analysis of the official ambient monitoring data on the evening of Diwali.
The data show a dramatic build-up of pollution as crackers begin to take effect and hit dangerous levels of exposure.
 
"The ambient pollution level on Diwali may have seen a slight improvement over the previous year due to comparatively less crackers and mild wind in some parts. The recorded wind speed during 2015 Diwali was 1.19 metre per second in contrast to 0.62 m/s in 2014 – the wind speed in this Diwali had almost doubled. But from the public health perspective, direct exposure to toxic emissions matters most," the CSE report stated. 
 
“Delhiites will have to do a lot more to control crackers to reduce such dangerous levels of exposure and protect public health,” said Anumita Roy Chowdhry, Executive Director, CSE.
 
"Overall, during Diwali evenings people breathed an hourly average that is at least 3 to 4 times higher than the ambient monitoring recorded at the DPCC stations," it said.
 
CSE also tracked the changes in real-time data during Diwali evening and found rapid build-up as the evening progressed. 
 
"The official release on Diwali pollution does not capture these changes in evening when the crackers are burst," it said.
 
Official ambient monitoring showed comparatively lower range for most pollutants compared with last year: DPCC has released results of the ambient monitoring on Diwali day and compared them with last year. The plausible reasons are comparatively less cracker burning and also mild and improved wind compared to last year. 
 
CSE had issued a warning day before Diwali about the deadly impact of pollution caused by crackers at the onset of winter when the air is already saturated. 
 
"The levels of tiny particles had already increased seven times since October 1 this year. This left no room for additional pollution in the city, especially from crackers that not only pushes up the pollution spike but also laces it with deadly cancer causing substances," it said.
 
“It is not enough to quibble over marginal changes in Diwali peak pollution from year to year. This requires strong community sensitization as well as judicious mix of regulatory controls to protect public health,” said Roy Chowdhry.
 
"Doctors have warned against breathlessness, cough, asthma, pulmonary disease, rhinitis, and lower respiratory tract infections. Those suffering from broncho constriction, wheezing; chronic obstruction pulmonary disease need precaution. High exposures to metal particles are known to be associated with lung cancer, pneumoconiosis, emphysema and high toxic effect on cells in the long run. Though Diwali is a short term exposure it adds to the already high exposure in the city."
 
"But this issue cannot be tackled only with command and control measures. This requires strong public campaign to build awareness and support. “We need to put long-term measures in place immediately to reduce both air and noise pollution drastically to have a cleaner Diwali next year,” said Roy Chowdhry.
 

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