Pollution Red Alert In Chennai

Pollution Red Alert In Chennai

Chennai and Hyderabad are also among the top five 'most polluted cities' list. Delhi remains the most polluted city in India. Chennai encounters with hazy skies for the last few days have left citizens concerned as to whether Chennai will also go the Delhi way, where smog-filled skies are annual events. The cause for this concern is the troubling air quality levels recorded in various parts of the city over the last few days.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) level in the Velachery area stood at 271 (as compared to Delhi which is at 282 at the same time). While the calculation to arrive at AQI may differ, but one thing is clear from the findings across all these reports. The air is not healthy for breathing. Chennai’s natural air conditioner – the sea breeze – has not been very active. This stillness is not helping the situation either.

What’s spoiling the air?

Particulate Matter (PM) is a mixture of solid and liquid particles that are suspended in the air. PM 2.5 is an atmospheric particulate matter with a diameter of fewer than 2.5 micrometers, which is around 3 percent of the diameter of a human hair. PM 2.5 particles, which cause respiratory problems and reduce visibility, can only be detected with the help of an electron microscope because they are so small.

According to the world health Organization (WHO) the ideal levels of PM2.5 levels in the air is 25 ug/m3 as an annual average. As the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the acceptable levels of PM 2.4 in the ambient air in India must be limited to 60 ug/mg. The levels of PM 2.5 in the important because the size of the pollutants are small and are capable of entering the human body and causing respiratory diseases.

NCAP Survey

On June 5 2019, the Government of India launched the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) which proposes to chalk out the national-level strategy for reducing the levels of air pollution at both the regional and urban level. The target is for a reduction of 20-30% of PM2.5 and PM10 concentration by 2024.

As part of this programme, a list of 102 cities has been identified to protect public health and spread awareness on the adverse impact of outdoor air pollution.

Surprisingly Tuticorin is the only city from Tamil Nadu which made it to this list. There is no mention about Chennai

N Puviarasan, director of Area Cyclone Warning Centre of Regional Meteorological Centre, said Chennai would experience dry weather for two more days, while rainfall activity would resume in southern districts from Friday. "The pollution levels will reduce from Saturday or Sunday as Cyclone Bulbul that formed in Bay of Bengal moving up north dragging all the polluted air," said weather blogger Pradeep John.

It now seems that the only saviour for Chennai could be Cyclone Bulbul, which is expected to hit the eastern coast of India by next week. This is likely to blow the polluted air away. Till then people with asthma, children, older adults and outdoor workers should reduce prolonged outdoor exposure.

Nimmadhi says some tips to avoid air pollution:

 Use Public Transportation

 Buy Energy-Efficient Vehicles

 Consider “going green”

 Plant a Garden

 Turn Off Lights When Not in Use

 Buy Green Electricity Make use of Solar Energy

 Use Natural Gas Instead of Charcoal

 Always Use Recyclable Products

 Reuse Paper Bags

 Avoid Plastic Bags

 Don’t Use Hazardous Chemicals

 Quit Smoking

 Try to avoid AC