LUCKNOW: Air pollution level in the city has registered a marginal rise this year. The post-monsoon ambient air quality report released by the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research on its 48th foundation day state that the RSPM (PM10) or respirable suspended particulate matter level at all the monitoring locations (residential, commercial and industrial areas) were higher than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. And, PM10 exhibited an increasing trend at all the commercial and industrial areas. On the other hand, the concentration of gaseous pollutants (SO2 and NOx) was well below the prescribed NAAQS at all the locations. The noise level at all the locations except the industrial areas showed higher level than the permissible limits during day and night time.
Elaborating more on the post-monsoon ambient air quality report, SC Barman, scientist at IITR, said, "In residential areas (Aliganj, Vikas Nagar, Indira Nagar & Gomti Nagar), the 24 hours average concentration of PM10 were in the range of 161.6 microgram/cubic metre to 197.8 with an average of 178.1 microgram/cubic metre. In commercial areas (Charbagh, Alambagh, Aminabad & Chowk) the average concentration of PM10 were in the range of 218.5 microgram/cubic metre to 248.8 with an average of 223.9 microgram/cubic metre. As far as the industrial area is concerned, the average concentration of PM10 was 226.97 microgram/cubic metre." He further stated that the average concentration of PM10 was highest in Gomti Nagar (197.8 microgram/cubic metre) among residential areas and Chowk (248.8 microgram/cubic metre) in commercial areas. All the values of PM10 were above the prescribed National Ambient Air Quality Standard for industrial, residential, rural and other areas.
The average concentration of sulphur dioxide (SO2) in residential areas was 13.9 microgram/cubic metre, while in the commercial areas, the average concentration of SO2 was 17.4 microgram/cubic metre. In industrial area of Amausi, the average concentration of SO2 was 18.0 microgram/cubic metre. Likewise, the average concentration of oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) in residential areas was 50.6 microgram/cubic metre, whereas in the commercial areas, it was 60.3 microgram/cubic metre. The average concentration of NOx in the industrial areas was 49.9 microgram/cubic metre. However, the values of NOx and SO2 were well within the prescribed NAAQS limit of 80 microgram/cubic metre for all the monitoring locations.
The 24 hour mean concentration of trace metals (Nickel and Lead) in ambient air associated with PM10 were found to be 12.7 nanogram per metre cube for Nickel and 163.1 nanogram per metre cube for Lead. On the noise front, in the residential areas, the day and night time noise levels were recorded between 62.2 to 68.4 dB(A) and 54.2 to 60.2 dB(A) respectively. All the values were higher than the prescribed limit of 55 dB (A) and 45 dB (A) respectively. In commercial and heavy traffic area, the day and night time noise levels were recorded between 68.2 to 74.5 dB (A). Noise level at all the commercial sites during day and night was found above the prescribed limit of 65 dB (A) and 55 dB (A) respectively. In industrial area of Amausi, the day and night time noise levels were recorded 68.9 dB (A) and 65.5 dB (A) respectively. Noise levels at the industrial location in the day and night time was found below the prescribed limit of 75.0 dB (A) and 70.0 dB (A) respectively.
