KOLHAPUR: Air pollution levels stood at twice the permissible limits during this year's Ganeshotsav in Kolhapur city. Overcrowded areas, heavy traffic emissions, generators used to fuel sound systems in idol immersion processuins and firecrackers contributed to the air pollution levels shooting way beyond the permissible scale.
Festivities over, worrisome health concerns remain the only consequence of the city making merry over ten days.
A study conducted by research students of the department of environmental science, Shivaji University Kolhapur (SUK), showed that there had been a sharp rise in suspended particulate matter (SPM) and respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) - which cause pollution - in two city areas prominent for Ganesha festival celebrations.
"SPM includes dust, smoke, pollen or soil particles; particles that remain suspended in the atmosphere and ultimately add to the pollution level. RSPM are particles that can be easily inhaled by human beings, given their minute size of 10 micron," said Vikas Jadhav, a professor at the department of environmental science, SUK.
Pollution monitoring units were set up at Dabholkar corner and Mahadwar road. Dabholkar corner is home to the state transport's central bus stand (CBS), while Mahadwar road is part of the idol immersion procession route for the festival and witnesses sizeable crowds, especially on the final day of the festival.
Dabholkar corner witnessed a sharp rise of 470 micro gram per meter cube of SPM particles in the air, against the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board's (MPCB) standard of 200 micro gram per meter cube, over the 10-day fest. Mahadwar Road witnessed 393 micro gram per meter cube of SPM for the same standard.
Not only rising SPM levels, the RSPM level too showed an increase over the given standard. Dabholkar corner showed a rise of 108 micro gram per meter cube of particles against the standard of 100 micro gram per meter cube, while Mahadwar road showed a rise of 104 micro gram per meter cube of the particles.
"The rise in SPM levels, that too during the rains, when most of the soil particles are settled through mud or the soil itself, is indeed a cause of worry. Such particles are not only responsible for various health problems, but represent increasing pollution levels in the city too," P D Raut, head of the SUK department, told TOI. "The smoke associated with SPM particles includes gases like carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, and both are hazardous for health," Raut said. While there was lesser use of gulal this year, the use of generators for the sound systems contributed a lot to increasing smoke particles during the festival, especially on the first and the last day, Raut said.
"The festival season is when the risk of respiratory infections is at its highest. We receive more upper respiratory tract infection cases during festivals like Ganeshotsav and Diwali. Kids and the elderly can are the most susceptible to such infections," Ranjit Sawant, president of the General Practitioner's Association, Kolhapur, told TOI on Friday. "Asthmatic patients need to take extra care of themselves during the festival season," added Sawant.
Prakash Vichare, a veteran paediatrician, told TOI that the number of cases of children from the city suffering from respiratory problems has increased over the past few years. "Children are the worst sufferers of air pollution and much of this pollution is caused by the rising number of vehicles on the city roads every year. Allergic bronchitis and asthma are two major illnesses caused by this pollution; diseases that can prove persistent and even fatal if not cured properly and within time," Vichare said.
Environment activist Uday Gaikwad said, "The rise in the particle levels can be reduced if the number of vehicles on the roads are cut down. The use of firecrackers and generators contribute a lot to the pollution as well."
