Flashes and bangs worsen Colombo’s air pollution

Air pollution levels in Sri Lanka increased along with the volume of firecrackers that sprinkled patterns on the night skies heralding the new year.

According to the real time Air Quality Index of the US Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s ambient air pollution level increased to an unhealthy 180 in the index at around 1 a. m. on January 1— an unusually high amount for that time of the day. Usually air quality drops during peak road traffic hours.

The index measures particulate matter 2.5. The greater the index value, the higher the air pollution. An index value of 50 means good air quality, while 151 to 200 represents unhealthy air quality.

PM 2.5 particulates can directly enter the lungs and even the blood stream, the embassy explains. Particulates less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter are referred to as “fine” particulates and are believed to pose the largest health risks, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, says.

According to the index, the pollutant levels remained high on January 1 for several hours as 2020 dawned. Unhealthy levels would affect sensitive groups as well as non- sensitive groups.

The U. S. Department of State and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency work together to record air quality at U. S. Embassies and Consulates.

The Word Health Organisation estimates that around seven million people are killed worldwide due to air pollution. People exposed to polluted air are vulnerable to strokes, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute repertory infections.

According to an Indian study on exposures to particulate matter 2.5 pollution during the burning of the six most commonly used fire crackers show that the dose of personal exposures to PM 2.5 is extremely high. Short term personal exposure to polluted air could have significant long and short term health effects among children, people with chronic lung diseases, cardio vascular diseases and the elderly.

The study suggested that firecrackers must be avoided during the Diwali festival, and added that banning the sale of firecrackers by the Supreme Court in India during 2017 is a step in the right direction.

Biodiversity Conservation and Research Circle environmentalist, Supun Lahiru Prakash, told the Sunday Times that Sri Lankans should now recognise that air pollution causes sicknesses.

He said that lighting of fire crackers must be reduced and that use of chemicals should be reduced. He advises against burning plastic and materials including rubber waste outdoors as well.

“Planting trees and cleaning beaches are welcome, but these can not rectify the effects of air pollution,” he said.