New Delhi: Delhi and its neighbouring cities -- Faridabad and Gurgaon -- have witnessed "substantial ozone build-up" from February to May, a green body today claimed, cautioning that it was early signs of a "dangerous trend".
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said it has analysed real-time air quality data available from 31 automatic monitoring stations of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for February-May.
"This shows progressive increase in ozone pollution with the onset of summer. Several densely-populated areas have shown high frequency of days violating the ozone standards.
According to the analysis, at least on 23 days, ozone emerged as the "dominant pollutant" along with particulate matter in the daily air quality index (AQI). "These are the early signs of a dangerous trend," the CSE said.
Ozone is formed in polluted areas and some of that escapes with the wind to cleaner environments. It build ups there because it has no opportunity to further react with other pollutants to dissipate as it happens in polluted areas in a cyclical process, it said.
The posh Lutyens' Delhi area and prime places in central Delhi were also affected, it said.
The micro-mapping of ozone levels across the city to understand the vulnerable areas, also showed that there were some locations where "more than 50 per cent" of the days during the entire period (February-May), ozone levels exceeded the standards.
"In addition to this, the highest eight-hour ozone levels have been recorded in Najafgarh, Patparganj, Punjabi Bagh and Pusa where on certain days the levels have gone up close to two times the standard," the statement said.
"While we know that the problem of ozone escalates during summer, the surprise this year is the number of days when the AQI has shown ozone also as a dominant pollutant along with the particulate matter," Executive Director (research and advocacy) and Head of CSE's air pollution programme, Anumita Roychowdhury, said.
"Even before the health risk from particulate matter could be addressed, ozone has raised its ugly head in Delhi and NCR. The comprehensive action plan will require stringent and time-bound action to avert public health crisis," she said.
Heat waves and stronger sunshine increase the frequency of days during summer when ozone begins to cross the standards posing public health risk, especially to those suffering from asthma and respiratory problems, the CSE said.
Ground-level ozone is not directly emitted by any source. This is formed when oxides of nitrogen (NOX) and a range of volatile gases primarily from vehicles and other sources are exposed to each other in sunlight, it said.
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said it has analysed real-time air quality data available from 31 automatic monitoring stations of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for February-May.
"This shows progressive increase in ozone pollution with the onset of summer. Several densely-populated areas have shown high frequency of days violating the ozone standards.
According to the analysis, at least on 23 days, ozone emerged as the "dominant pollutant" along with particulate matter in the daily air quality index (AQI). "These are the early signs of a dangerous trend," the CSE said.
Advertisement
Ozone is formed in polluted areas and some of that escapes with the wind to cleaner environments. It build ups there because it has no opportunity to further react with other pollutants to dissipate as it happens in polluted areas in a cyclical process, it said.
Advertisement
The posh Lutyens' Delhi area and prime places in central Delhi were also affected, it said.
Advertisement
The micro-mapping of ozone levels across the city to understand the vulnerable areas, also showed that there were some locations where "more than 50 per cent" of the days during the entire period (February-May), ozone levels exceeded the standards.
Advertisement
"In addition to this, the highest eight-hour ozone levels have been recorded in Najafgarh, Patparganj, Punjabi Bagh and Pusa where on certain days the levels have gone up close to two times the standard," the statement said.
Advertisement
"While we know that the problem of ozone escalates during summer, the surprise this year is the number of days when the AQI has shown ozone also as a dominant pollutant along with the particulate matter," Executive Director (research and advocacy) and Head of CSE's air pollution programme, Anumita Roychowdhury, said.
"Even before the health risk from particulate matter could be addressed, ozone has raised its ugly head in Delhi and NCR. The comprehensive action plan will require stringent and time-bound action to avert public health crisis," she said.
Heat waves and stronger sunshine increase the frequency of days during summer when ozone begins to cross the standards posing public health risk, especially to those suffering from asthma and respiratory problems, the CSE said.
Ground-level ozone is not directly emitted by any source. This is formed when oxides of nitrogen (NOX) and a range of volatile gases primarily from vehicles and other sources are exposed to each other in sunlight, it said.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Drone Monitoring To Be Part Of Winter Action Plan In Delhi: AAP's Gopal Rai Delhi Records 128 Clean Air Days In First Half Of 2024: Report Delhi Pollution Body Bans Idol Immersion In Water Bodies Ahead Of Festivals AAP Asks Its Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal To Quit Over Atishi Remarks "Your Duty...": Chief Justice On Bengal's 'No Night Shift For Women' Note AAP's Atishi To Be Delhi's New Chief Minister, Chosen By Arvind Kejriwal Video: Leopard Spotted Crossing Road In Bengaluru's Electronic City 'X' Handle Of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Sudhakaran Hacked "Huge Focus On Safety": Railways Minister's Report On Modi 3.0's 100 Days Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.