Rapid urbanisation leading to air pollution

The Economic Times , Sunday, June 07, 2009
Correspondent : PTI
LUCKNOW: Rapid urbanization and massive construction being carried out in the city is leading to air and noise pollution, according to a report by the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research.

The IITR report said that air pollution had increased alarmingly in posh Gomti Nagar locality and Alambagh area of the city mainly due to construction acivities and vehicular emissions.

"Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) which should be not be more than 200 microgram/cubic metre (MM) has risen alarmingly to 379.7 MM. This is high as compared to last year when SPM was recorded at 334.3 MM," said the report, which was released here yesterday on the occasion of the World Environment Day.

Even the Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSMP) level in Gomti Nagar had increased significantly in the last year, said the report.

Last year RSPM level recorded in Gomti Nagar was 151.3 MM, which rose to 193.7 MM this year.

"Inordinate construction activity in the area is one of the reason behind increasing air pollution in the area," it said.

The monitoring was done between March and May this year at 10 locations, including residential, commercial and industrial areas.

The report indicated that among residential areas, while air pollution increased in Gomti Nagar, it dropped elsewhere in the city.

"In Indira Nagar SPM level went down from 368.5 to 346.2 and in Aliganj from 334.3 to 280.1," the report pointed out.

In the category of commercial areas Alambagh was the most polluted locality with SPM level of 420.8 MM, which was higher as compared to 400 MM recorded last year.

Here the RSPM level had also increased from 201.5 MM last year to 235.1 MM this year.

Interestingly, in Charbagh, which is one of the most busiest area of the city due to railway and bus stations, SPM level dropped significantly within a year.

In Charbagh, SPM level dropped from 406.8 MM last year to 355.3 MM this year, the report said.

However, in terms of noise pollution Indira Nagar has turned out to be the noisiest place in the city.

As against the permissible noise level of 55 decibel during the day and 45 decibel at night, the level in Indira Nagar was 76.2 decibel the during day and 61 decibel at night.

After Indira Nagar, Aminabad, which the business hub of the city, was ranked second in terms of noise pollution.

Here noise level during day was 70.8 decibel, which decreased to 55.6 at night.

The city-based IITR said that high air and noise pollution level could result in serious health problems like loss of appetite, sleep disorders and reduced work ability.

Prolonged exposure to noise and air pollution could also lead to serious lung and heart related ailments, it said.

 
SOURCE : Sunday, 07 June 2009
 


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