BAREILLY: Green activists' anti-firecracker campaign went up in smoke on Diwali night with the city recording nearly eight times the normal amount (100 g/m3) of respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) in the air. Noise level was also four times the standard limit (40 decibels) and 891.28 micrograms per metre cube of RSPM was recorded on Diwali which is eight times the standard rate of 100 micrograms per metre cube.
RSPM is causative agent of mortality and morbidity. Fine particles on their own or with combination with other air pollutants are linked with a number of health problems like premature death, aggravated asthma and acute respiratory symptoms.
The level of RSPM at IVRI on Diwali was recorded at 579.98g/m3 against the 153.11g/m3 of RSPM on a normal day. At Rajendra Nagar, it was recorded at 788.23g/m3 against the 167.8g/m3 of RSPM on a normal day while at Civil Lines, it was 891.28g/m3 against the 179.3g/m3. The recordings were made over a 24-hour period from 3 pm to 3 am.
Speaking with TOI, Dinesh K Saxena, professor, Botany department, Bareilly College, said, "Toxic fumes from firecrackers worsen killer particles in the air that have already increased by eight times than the safe standards. They also deposit deadly chemicals in our environment that remain for days." This harms health of not only those who suffer from respiratory and cardiac problems but even normal healthy people, he added.
Noise pollution was also recorded at all time high in these areas of the city. The ambient noise level was recorded at 79 decibles on Diwali at IVRI against the 20 decibles on any normal day and at Rajendra Nagar, it was 91 decibles against 39 decibles while, the noise level at Civil Lines was recorded at 83 decibles against 45 decibles on the normal day.
