KOCHI: There is a rise in air pollution, especially in the respirable supended particulate matter (RSPM) and subsequent fall in oxygen content, in some parts of the state, says a report by the state pollution control board (PCB). A trend analysis of 30 stations in the past four years (2009-12) by the PCB shows that RSPM levels are above 60 microgram per cubic meter (ug/m3), which is the upper limit as per the national ambient air quality monitoring programme (NAMP) standards.
While the report attributes the rise in the RSPM levels to the construction industry, rather than industrial or automobile pollution, PCB chairman K Sajeevan says that the board will take a second look at the data to see whether it is related to construction. "As per my assessment, it could be more to do with the state of roads and vehicles which generate too much dust," says he.
Dr George Mothi, a senior pulmonologist at Medical Trust hospital, Kochi says that there has been a rise in the number of patients reporting with respiratory diseases.
While noting down the lifestyle of the patient to make an assessment of the cause of his ill-health, he finds that patients with such condition are living close to roads and construction sites or they are regular road travellers.
The PCB report says that the annual average values of RSPM was found to be more than the permissible limit at seven stations in 2012.
Irumpanam, a suburb in Kochi, recorded 664 ug/m3 in May 2012. The high value was due to particulates from earth excavation works done for cable laying in the road near the sampling site and the same reason was attributed for the higher annual average of 113.55 ug/m3 there, according to the study.
The ambient air monitoring is done 24 hours a day for two days a week at each station. Apart from RSPM, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulphur dioxide (S02) are monitored at four hour intervals. The permissible limit for NO2 and SO2 is 40 ug/m3 and 50 ug/m3 respectively.
While the report attributes the rise in the RSPM levels to the construction industry, rather than industrial or automobile pollution, PCB chairman K Sajeevan says that the board will take a second look at the data to see whether it is related to construction. "As per my assessment, it could be more to do with the state of roads and vehicles which generate too much dust," says he.
Dr George Mothi, a senior pulmonologist at Medical Trust hospital, Kochi says that there has been a rise in the number of patients reporting with respiratory diseases.
While noting down the lifestyle of the patient to make an assessment of the cause of his ill-health, he finds that patients with such condition are living close to roads and construction sites or they are regular road travellers.
The PCB report says that the annual average values of RSPM was found to be more than the permissible limit at seven stations in 2012.
Irumpanam, a suburb in Kochi, recorded 664 ug/m3 in May 2012. The high value was due to particulates from earth excavation works done for cable laying in the road near the sampling site and the same reason was attributed for the higher annual average of 113.55 ug/m3 there, according to the study.
The ambient air monitoring is done 24 hours a day for two days a week at each station. Apart from RSPM, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulphur dioxide (S02) are monitored at four hour intervals. The permissible limit for NO2 and SO2 is 40 ug/m3 and 50 ug/m3 respectively.
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