Mumbai records 2019’s cleanest air

Mumbai: The city saw a sudden improvement in the air quality as the city recorded Air Quality Index (AQI), an indicator for pollutants in the air, as satisfactory at 74 on Saturday, according to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR). For long, the city has been reeling under poor air quality however experts stated that this year, May has recorded good air quality as of now.

According to SAFAR officials, the good air quality can be attributed to the increase in the temperature and the early setting in of sea breeze due to which particles do not remain in the air for long. “The westerly winds have led to the clearing of pollutants in the air. The sea breeze is settling in at the right time due to which the particulate matters are not being suspended in the air,” said Gufran Beig, project director, SAFAR.

On Saturday, the overall PM10 levels, pollutants arising from dust, were recorded at 62 (satisfactory) while the PM2.5 levels- arising from vehicular and industrial emissions, were recorded at 32 (satisfactory).

Seven out of nine locations recorded good air quality including Boriva-li, Malad, Bhandup, Che-mbur, Worli and Mazag-aon. Bandra Kurla Complex recorded a poor level of AQI at 304.

Navi Mumbai too recorded moderate air quality at AQI of 115. On Friday, the year 2019 witnessed the cleanest air till now in Mumbai at AQI of 64 satisfactory). SAFAR officials have stated that improved air quality will remain in Mumbai in coming days owing to the increased temperature. Mumbai recorded a maximum temperature of 33.5 degrees Celsius over the last 24 hours since Friday.