The national capital recorded 122 microgram per cubic metre of the pollutant, which is 1.22 times higher than the eight-hour average standard
People in Delhi faced more days with average ozone levels spiking over the national air quality limits in 2019 than last year, according to an analysis by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). It is due to intense heatwaves in this summer.
The national capital witnessed 122 microgram per cubic metre (ug/cu m), of ozone pollution — which is 1.22 times higher than the eight-hour average standard. During 2018, it had gone up to 106 ug/cu m which is 1.1 times higher than the standard, the analysis showed.
The eight-hour average standard for ozone exposure is 100 ug/cu m.
“Even as Delhi is battling serious particulate pollution, newer rogues are beginning to raise their ugly heads to add to the health risk. The number of days exceeding or crossing the standard has certainly gone up this summer. It can be a serious health crisis if the short duration levels begin to increase hereafter,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director (research and advocacy) at CSE.
“It seems the intense heatwave experienced this summer may have influenced this trend in the region, which is already suffering from severe air pollution.
“This is a matter of serious concern as ozone is a highly reactive gas and can have immediate adverse effect on those suffering from asthma and respiratory conditions,” Roychowdhury said.
Ozone is not directly emitted from any source. It gets formed when emissions from vehicles, industry or power plants — nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compounds — react in the air under the influence of sunlight and temperature.
For the analysis, CSE tracked the daily ozone data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) for the period April 1-June 15, 2019.
Ozone — along with particulate matter — remained the dominant pollutant of the day for 28 days between April 1 and June 5. In comparison, the pollutant was the highest for 17 days in 2018.
Among national-capital regions ozone exceeding the standards for highest per cent of days in:
Residential locations in Delhi with significantly high level are: Siri Fort (76 per cent of the days), Sri Aurobindo Marg (87 per cent), RK Puram (53 per cent), JLN Stadium (71 per cent), Dwarka Sector 8 (68 per cent) and Rohini (63 per cent).
The industrial areas include: Bawana (78 per cent), Jahangirpuri (67 per cent), Najafgarh (92 per cent) and Narela (80 per cent).
On the other hand, areas like Aya Nagar, Karni Singh Shooting Range, IGI airport, Lodhi Road, Mandir Marg, Pusa Road, Patparganj, North Campus, ITO and Anand Vihar had less than five per cent of the days with ozone levels.
“We cannot afford to let this problem grow to worsen the health emergency,” Roychowdhury said. To curb this, governments must:
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