Post Deepavali, city gets smog blanket

In Sowcarpet, PM10 levels increased from 178 μg/m3 on Deepavali in 2016 to 777 μg/m3 this year. In other parts of the city, the PM10 levels have almost tripled as compared to 2016. The results were revealed by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), which conducts ambient air quality (AAQ) and noise level check during the festival each year, recording the levels of pollution on pre-Deepavali and Deepavali. 

The surveys were conducted in five places in Chennai -Triplicane, Besant Nagar, Nungambakkam, Sowcarpet and T Nagar. This year, PM10 results ranged from 47 to 70 μg /m3 on normal days while it ranged from 387 to 777 μg/ m3 on Wednesday, marking a nine-fold increase. Sowcarpet recorded the highest degree of pollution (777μg/m3). Officials explained that during Deepavali day, due to climatic condition, there was no dispersion of particulate matter pollutant. Hence higher value of PM10 was observed.

Gaseous pollutants such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide remained well within prescribed limits (80 μg/m3). The ambient noise level ranged from 62 to 71 dB(A) (A-weighted decibels) to 68 to 80 dB(A) on Deepavali. However, government hospitals reported no unusual increase in patients with respiratory complaints so far.