Two-year study reveals Andheri pollution spike TEMPERATURES REMAIN HIGH, MAY DIP IN THREE DAYS

MUMBAI: Andheri has seen a sharp rise in pollution from particulate matter of any region in the city over the past two years, according to a study by private weather forecasting agency Skymet.

Skymet carried out the twoyear comparative study at three locations in the city – Andheri, Worli and Wadala – for fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) from dust, soot, chemicals and organic matter, which are considered dangerous as they can penetrate the respiratory system deeply.

The safe limit for PM10 particles is 100µg/m3. The study found that in 2013-14, the average level of PM10 particles was 95 microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m3) in Andheri. In 201415, this doubled to 190µg/m3. Similarly, the PM2.5 level rose from 46µg/m3 in 2013-14 to 80µg/ m3 in 2014-15. The safe limit for these particles is 60µg/m3.

While levels of PM2.5 were below permissible limits at Worli and Wadala, PM10 levels at both places were above the safe limit. Wadala recorded an increase in PM10 from 161µg/m3 in 2013-14 to 194µg/m3 in 2014-15; in Worli, the PM10 level decreased from 150µg/m3 to 148µg/m3 during the same period.

GP Sharma, vice-president for meteorology at Skymet, said, “The number of vehicles plying on Mumbai’s roads has risen significantly in the past 10 years. Pollutants released from vehicles, congested roads and dust particles from construction sites are among the factors responsible for the increase in pollution at these locations.”

He added, “The current airpollution figures may not seem a cause of concern as of now if we compare them to cities such as Delhi. However, the trends

show that a snowball effect could push air-quality figures to dangerous levels in the coming years.”

Over the past year, several private and government-run organisations have been monitoring pollution levels in Mumbai. The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) records real-time air pollution data at nine locations in the city, while the state pollution control board checks air quality at Sion and Bandra. Other organisations such as Indiaspend and the US Consulate General also calculate the air quality index (AQI) at various individual locations. MUMBAI: A day after the city recorded the second highest day temperature for December in a decade, the suburbs and south Mumbai continued to record maximum temperatures above normal levels on Friday.

The temperature was 35.3 degrees Celsius— 4.2 degrees Celsius above normal— as recorded at the weather station in Santacruz. Colaba recorded similar temperatures as on previous days— 34.7 degrees Celsius, or 4.2 degrees Celsius above normal on Friday.

Weathermen said that the mercury is likely to remain at its elevated levels for the next three days, after which it is likely to come down. “An anti-cyclonic cir culation over the central peninsu lar region is responsible for block ing cold winds from the north from passing over Maharashtra It is not expected to clear in the next two to three days,” said VK Rajeev, director, western region India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Meanwhile, night tempera tures in the suburbs were simi lar to Thursday’s readings with 15.7 degrees Celsius, or 1.4 degree Celsius below nor mal, being recorded on Friday However, there was a rise in minimum temperatures at south Mumbai, with Colaba recording 22 degrees Celsius, 2.5 degrees Celsius above normal.

Weathermen predicted main ly clear skies on Saturday, with day and night temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius and 15 degrees Celsius respectively.