MUMBAI: After a day's relief from poor air quality, pollution levels shot back into 'poor' category in the city on Monday. System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 253, the highest this year.
An AQI, measured on the basis of concentration of the PM 2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 microns) pollutant, 201-300 is considered 'poor' and people sensitive to air pollution may experience uneasiness.
Even as the city recorded an AQI around 210 and 230 since January 1, it could breathe easy on Sunday when the AQI dipped into the moderate category. However, it escalated to 253 on Monday morning.
Researchers at SAFAR said higher pollution levels were due to external emissions. "Wind speeds are normal and temperatures are higher than the past few days. Pollution levels are increasing since a day due to an external source which could be due burning of wood during festivals over the weekend," said Gufran Beig, project director, SAFAR.
Minimum temperatures on Monday were above normal. Minimum temperature recorded by Colaba observatory was 22.5 degrees Celsius, 3.4 degrees above normal. At Santacruz, minimum temperature was 22.5 degrees, 4.1 above normal.
Among 10 suburbs monitored by SAFAR, the worst AQI was at Borivli (316). Other locations in very poor category (301-400) were BKC, Colaba, Andheri, Malad and Mazgaon. The cleanest air was recorded at Chembur (123). SAFAR said the AQI will be 'moderate' (172) on Wednesday.
