According to the observations made by the AP Pollution Control Board (APPCB), Visakhapatnam city daily registers air pollutants above the average levels of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) set by the Central Pollution Control Board.

As per the recordings in the city on Thursday, benzene registered the highest level of 14.8 mg/m3 against the NAAQS standard of 4.55 mg/m3. Similarly, the level of carbon monoxide in the city atmosphere was 1.71 mg/m3 against the standard of 0.74mg/m3, ammonia registered 10.9 mg/m3 against the 7.11 mg/m3, nitrogen dioxide 43.3 mg/m3 against the 21.67 mg/m3, ozone 65.7 mg/m3 against the 33.24mg/m3, PM10 (particulate matter 10 micrometers) registered 146 mg/m3 against the standard of 76.13mg/m3, PM 2.5 registered 66 mg/m3 against the 37 mg/m3 and finally sulphur dioxide registered 53.5 mg/m3 against the NAAQS standard of 26.53 mg/m3.

Medical experts and doctors feel that air pollutants can cause respiratory health diseases besides skin damages and hair-fall. Dr KV Ram Kumar, managing director of Lakshmi Gayatri Hospital at Akkayyapalem, said registration of high level of benzene, carbon monoxide, ammonia and sulphur in the air can cause Eosinophilic bronchitis, a type of respiratory ailment. It often results in a chronic cough even though lung function tests would be usually normal. This apart, damages to skin and hair-fall are also reported due to air pollution, Dr KV Ram said. "I come across two to three cases having respiratory problems daily at my clinic," Ram said.

APPCB Visakhapatnam unit's environmental engineer R Laxmi Narayana attributed the high level of pollutants to various reasons, particularly the high presence of diesel fuelled motor vehicles in the city. "Usage of either green vehicles or petrol fuelled vehicles can somehow prevent the alarming levels of the pollutants in the air," Laxmi Narayana told TOI.

When contacted, Road Transport Authority (RTA) deputy transport commissioner V Venkateswara Rao said above 90% of the 82,000 odd commercial transport vehicles in Visakhapatnam district are diesel fuelled as per their general observations. The Visakhapatnam regional RTA has 10.32 lakh motor vehicles including 8.5 lakh two-wheelers and 30,000 three-wheelers like auto-rickshaws.

"Around 7 lakh motor vehicles daily move in GVMC limits. The vehicles include 40,000 cars, 30,000 autos, 4 lakh two-wheelers, 2,000 goods and 500 RTC buses. We also book cases against the vehicles which flout pollution norms. We booked 1,450 cases including 1,100 in Vizag city last fiscal and fined Rs 14.5 lakh," Venkateswara Rao said.

Laxmi Narayana said tree plantation, daily cleaning of roads and other areas can reduce the level of air-pollution in the city. "The recent efforts by authorities in the wake of international fleet review (IFR) gave good results in improving the pollution levels when compared with the last five years. Such efforts should be continued in the long run for further improvement," Laxmi Narayana stated.

Some of the highly polluted areas in the city are Gnanapuram, Police Barracks, Burujupeta, Fishing Harbour, Jagadamba Centre, Surya Bagh, Kancharapalem, NAD Kottaroad, Maddilapalem, Gajuwaka, Gopalapatnam, Madhurawada, Dwarakanagar, Dabagardens, Visakhapatnam Port Area, 104 Area, Sheela Nagar, Thatichetlapalem.