Pollution level in Mumbai down

If the sudden drizzles and cold breeze ain’t enough to bring a smile to your face, here comes another good news that will further bring relief. For the first time in November, the city has recorded the lowest amount of air pollution on Monday.

The maximum temperature on Monday was 34 degrees Celsius, while the minimum was 23 degrees Celsius.

As per System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the nine air quality measuring stations — Borivali, Malad, Bhandup, Andheri, Chembur, BKC, Worli, Mazgoan and Colaba for the first time in the month have recorded air pollution within the permissible limit, indicating healthy air condition. All the stations expect Chembur has gone ‘green’ (signifying healthy air) with the lowest pollution level.

The four major air pollutants sulphur dioxide (SO2), oxides of nitrogen (NO2), suspended particulate matter size 10 (PM10) and 2.5 (PM2.5) are within the permissible level in all the stations expect Chembur where only NO2 has higher level.

BKC has recorded lowest concentration of air pollutants where PM10 was recorded as 26 ug/m3 whereas the permissible limit of PM10 is 100 ug/m3 as per the ambient air quality monitoring standards.

According to experts, due to the change in the wind flow, the air pollutants have been diverted that helped in cleaning the atmosphere.

“Now, the wind is blowing from the southern zone to the north that has cleared the pollutants created during Diwali and the prolonged heat of November,” said Dr Rakesh Kumar, director of National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI). Also, due to change in weather, the pollutants in the upper level of the atmosphere have condensed and came closer to the earth that further improved the air condition.

According to the regional meteorological centre, Mumbai, the maximum temperature was recorded as 34 and minimum was 23-degree Celsius in the city on Monday. Some rain and thunderstorm were recorded at isolated areas in Maharashtra. As per the forecast, the temperature would remain moderate on Tuesday.